As its name suggests, this product is used to reduce the profusion of pests. Pesticides are used to help protect people's crops from pests such as weeds, fungus, and bacteria. Farmers use pesticides to help produce food by protecting their crops.

If you must use pesticides, follow these tips to reduce pesticide effects on your local waterways:

• Identify your pest problem and choose the least toxic pesticide that targets your pest and achieves the results you want. For information about pest identification and management, see how to manage pests in homes, gardens, landscapes, and turf.

• Determine how much pesticide you need and buy only the amount that you can use up.

• Use spot treatments whenever possible.

• Always wear a long-sleeved shirt, pants, eye protection, and other equipment required on the pesticide container label.

• Dispose of unused chemicals properly and according to label instructions.

Outdoors

• Avoid overwatering after applying pesticides or fertilizers.

• Never let pesticide runoff flow into storm drains.

• Do not apply pesticides outdoors when rain is forecast or when it is windy out.

• Avoid applying pesticides on paved areas or near waterways.

For more information on uses of pesticides, please click the following links:

http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/pesticides/index.cfm

https://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/pesticides/

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/WATER/U/safeuse.html