Our work Farm work Pesticide Handling & Disposal Drips and spills in yards contribute up to 40% of the pesticides that reach ground and surface water. Our advisors work with farmers to ensure that pesticides are handled in fields or on purpose built areas which drain to a biobed or biofilter, thus avoiding contamination of streams and rivers. Responsible use in the field is also important. Buffer strips help to protect watercourses, whilst choosing ferric phosphate-based slug pellets rather than metaldehyde reduces the risk of compromising downstream abstraction points for our drinking water.