Labeled Herbicides Near Water

Riparian

• Herbicides sometimes have the word riparian on the label. Riparian refers to an area near a waterway. Some herbicides are meant for plants on land, but they can be sprayed near a waterway because they are not active in water or they break down naturally with no harmful byproducts.

Aquatic

• When the label says that an herbicide is aquatic, that means that the herbicide is specifically designed for use in water. However, aquatic also means that the herbicide is active in the water, so gardeners must make sure that they use suitable amounts of herbicide so that they do not kill some plants accidentally.

Flooding Areas

• Some areas are not riparian, but they are seasonally flooded after rains. Consider that these floods can wash the herbicides on land back into the water where they get into the water supply. If the label says that the herbicide cannot get into water supplies at all, make sure that the area where you spray the herbicide will not experience seasonal flooding.

Application Instruction

• When herbicides are used near water, make sure to follow the application instructions on the label. You should use the quantity of herbicide recommended on the label and you should apply the herbicide as directed. Some herbicides do not cause problems if they get into the waterway in small quantities, but too much herbicide can create health problems for life forms. Labels should describe the herbicide's toxicity so that you have an idea of how much the herbicide can pollute a certain ecosystem. Some ecosystems are healthier than others and can handle some pollutants, while you will want to use less toxic herbicides in certain ecosystems.

Professional Application

• Some herbicides may only be applied by professionals. The label should indicate who may apply herbicides near the waterway. Some herbicides are only safe near waterways if applied correctly.

Herbicide Contents

• Make sure that all herbicides have their labels if you ever transport an herbicide to a different container. If a label wears off and you cannot read the contents, do not use the herbicide, and especially not near a waterway.