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10 July 2019 Go back to News
‘Think Before You Flush’ and help safeguard Dún Laoghaire’s precious marine environment.
Volvo Dún Laoghaire Regatta gets underway
As Dún Laoghaire gets ready to welcome thousands of visitors for the Regatta this weekend, Irish Water, in partnership with An Taisce's Clean Coasts and the Volvo Dún Laoghaire Regatta organising committee, is encouraging locals and visitors alike to ‘Think Before You Flush’ and help safeguard Dún Laoghaire’s precious marine environment.
When the 3 Ps (pee, poo and paper) are flushed down the toilet they travel along the sewer network to wastewater treatment plants. However, every day people flush thousands of items such as wet wipes, cotton bud sticks, nappies and cotton wool pads down the toilet instead of putting them in a bin. Flushing these items can have a negative impact on internal plumbing in homes and businesses, the wastewater network and our marine environment.
Unflushables
Martin Carroll, Irish Water’s Wastewater Operations Lead for Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, commented: “We’re reminding all residents in and visitors to Dún Laoghaire for the regatta to ‘Think Before You Flush’ and remember that items such as wipes, cotton buds, plasters and nappies cause serious problems in homes, sewers and the marine environment when flushed down the toilet. The size and scale of the impact of flushing the wrong items is incredible, for example a plastic cotton bud stick can take 150 years to break down in the sea.”
He added, “Irish Water is investing in wastewater infrastructure right across the country. We are building new wastewater treatment plants, upgrading old plants and laying new sewers. However, it is still really important that people recognise the impact of what they flush so the network can function efficiently and effectively. Placing a bin in the bathroom and disposing of wet wipes and other sanitary items appropriately has a hugely positive impact on the network and the environment.”
Clean Coasts
Sinead Mc Coy, Clean Coasts Manager added, “Sewage related litter is one of the categories of waste we find on our beaches, however it’s presence is preventable through some simple measures. Through the “think Before You Flush” campaign we are working with Irish Water to change the nation’s flushing behaviour which will make a difference to our coastal environment.”
The Think Before You Flush campaign is operated by An Taisce’s Clean Coasts programme in partnership with Irish Water. For more information visit www.thinkbeforeyouflush.org.