The Think Before You Flush and Pour campaigns, operated by Clean Coasts in partnership with Uisce Éireann, contributed to this year’s ESB Science Blast event, held in the RDS Dublin from March 3rd to 6th. ESB Science Blast, an RDS led initiative, is a free educational programme which actively encourages child-led investigation and scientific discovery. This non-competitive initiative aims to address inequities in STEM education by ensuring equal access for all students, with a 50/50 gender participation and a core focus on DEIS schools and Gaelscoileanna participation. The Think Before You Flush and Pour campaigns strive to encourage behavioural change in kitchens and toilets across the country and these type of events offer an ideal opportunity to engage students around topics that have a meaningful impact on the natural environment.
Flushing items such as wipes down our toilets can lead to blockages in our wastewater network, treatment plants and sewage overflows and can result in sewage related litter on our beaches, in our oceans, damaging water quality and our marine environment. Many toiletries, such as wet wipes, cotton pads and dental floss, are part of the ‘Dirty Dozen’, which are the top 12 items that are incorrectly flushed down the toilet in Ireland. Other items include hair; paper towels; medicine; sanitary products; food items; contact lenses; condoms; cigarette butts; and cotton bud sticks.
At the event students will also learn about the Think Before You Pour campaign. This campaign highlights the issue of pouring fats, oils, and greases (FOGs) from cooking down the kitchen sink. Instead of flowing freely, FOGs cool and harden as they travel along the wastewater network. When these FOGs combine with wipes and other sewage related litter such as hair and dental floss, fatbergs can form. Uisce Éireann clears thousands of blockages a year, including fatbergs, from our wastewater networks. The Think Before Pour campaign urges everyone to avoid washing or pouring FOGs down the kitchen drain and, instead, dispose of them in the bin once cool.
Speaking about the event, Campaign Officer Patrick Cross said, ”we are delighted to contribute to the ESB Science Blast for a second year and interact with such a receptive audience. The goal of the campaign is to support individuals to make informed decisions in their bathrooms and kitchens and protect Irelands beautiful marine ecosystems. The Science Blast provides an ideal platform to spread awareness about the Think Before You Flush and Pour campaigns and inspire positive change.”
Uisce Éireann’s Regional Wastewater Senior Manager, Iarla Moran, added: “We all have a role in safeguarding our environment. Almost a million people nationally are still using the toilet as a bin. We are asking people to always ‘Think Before You Flush’ and take a simple action such as putting a bin in the bathroom. Small changes in flushing habits will go a long way in protecting our precious environment.”