Which of the following is an example of following a surface-water advisory?

• A. Maintain a 66-foot buffer between application area and surface water
• B. Use a 10-foot buffer
• C. No buffer required
• D. Buffer should be near surface water

Answer: (A)

Protecting surface water by maintaining a buffer distance between the application area and bodies of water is how you follow a surface-water advisory. That buffer reduces the chance that pesticide drift or runoff will reach streams, ponds, or lakes. A 66-foot buffer illustrates compliance with the advisory because it keeps the treated area well away from water, giving time and space for any potential drift to settle or volatilize before it could reach surface water. In contrast, a 10-foot buffer may not meet the advisory requirements and could allow more drift toward water. No buffer would ignore the advisory and is not compliant, since the purpose of the advisory is to protect water resources. Saying the buffer should be near surface water contradicts the goal of the advisory, which is to keep chemicals away from water.