DRIPS—a DSS for estimating the input quantity of pesticides for German river basins

The GIS-based decision support system (DSS)—drainage runoff input of pesticides in surface water, DRIPS—has been developed on behalf of the German EPA (UBA) for exposure assessment of agriculturally used pesticides in surface waters. The tool estimates the quantity of pesticide input from non-point sources via surface runoff, tile drainage and spraydrift. Furthermore, the resulting predicted environmental concentration of pesticides in surface waters (PECsw) can be calculated considering the mean daily inputs of substances into river basins, characterized by their daily discharge. A graphical user interface (GUI) was created to provide users of the DSS with easy access to the model algorithms. Model parameters such as sorption (Koc), half-life (DT50), dose rate and application date of pesticides can be modified by the user in order to generate customized scenarios predicting PECsw for a choice of field crops, orchards or vineyards. Results are available as grid cell maps for the territory of Germany, featuring monthly catchment specific PECsw values.