Well Water Program

The use of pesticides is a part of many farm, garden, and nursery operations in Oregon. If you use pesticides, find out more about how you can protect the groundwater supplying your drinking water from contamination.

If you are concerned about pesticides in your well water read "Pesticides in Drinking Water", by National Pesticide Information Center (PDF).

Pesticide Emergencies

spills and poisoning

In Oregon, call Oregon Emergency Response System (OERS) at 1-800-452-0311 or 503-378-6377.

They provide expertise and assistance with all aspects of pesticide emergencies, such as connecting with poison control, clean-up procedures, and required reporting.

911 can also connect you with OERS.

When is it an emergency?

Contact OERS anytime there is human contact with pesticide or for any spill involving over 5 gallons of pesticide.

Other contact numbers:

• Nationwide Poison Hotline: 1-800-222-1222. 
• Pesticide Spills: Call Chemtrec 1-800-424-9300 or
  call the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802
   

Pesticide disposal & hazardous waste publications

• Hazardous Waste & Pesticides (File in MS Word). Learn how to avoid generating hazardous waste pesticide spray solutions, pesticide-contaminated rinsewaters, pesticide absorbents and empty pesticide containers.
• Pesticides & Disposal (File in MS Word). How to dispose of unusable or unwanted pesticide spray solutions, pesticide-contaminate rinsewaters and pesticide-containing absorbent.

On-line OSU Extension Service publications

• How Soil Properties Affect Groundwater Vulnerability to Pesticide Contamination (PDF).
• Site Assessment for Groundwater Vulnerability to Pesticide Contamination (PDF).
• Understanding Pesticide Persistence and Mobility for Groundwater and Surface Water Protection (PDF).

More information

• Oregon Department of Agriculture Pesticide Division