Uisce Éireann and Clean Coasts urge transition year students in Coláiste Choilm, Ballincollig to ‘Think Before You Flush’ at their Green Schools, Green Day event

Coláiste Choilm in Ballincollig, Cork was the most recent stop for the Think Before You Flush campaign, that focuses on the issue of flushing unsuitable items down the toilet and highlights the consequences of doing so, which includes blockages in our homes, sewers and pollution spills into the natural environment. Sewage related litter can impact water quality and the marine life that rely on our waterways for their habitat and nourishment. Think Before You Flush is a public awareness information campaign run by Clean Coasts in partnership with Uisce Éireann. The campaign's main message is to only flush the 3Ps down the toilet: that’s pee, poo and paper and all other waste belongs in the bin. This is the ninth year of the Clean Coasts campaign and once again Cork city is one of the regional areas the campaign will focus on. 

The workshop at Coláiste Choilm, delivered to transition year students for their Green Schools, Green Day event, highlighted the issuing of flushing items such as wipes, cotton bud sticks and dental floss down the toilet and how this affects waste water networks and water quality. Elaine Doyle, Clean Coasts Development Officer first met the students at Green Schools Water Ambassador training in Cork City last year and was invited to their Green Day event to speak about Think Before You Flush and show off the hideous fatberg model! 

Elaines presentation also included Think Before You Pour which addresses 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 litter such as hair and dental floss, fatbergs can form. Uisce Eireann clears thousands of blockages including fatbergs from the wastewater network every year. The Think Before Pour campaign asks everyone to never pour FOGs down the drain but to dispose of them in the bin once cool. The messages conveyed on the day connected with other environmental work the school is carrying out. 

Uisce Éireann’s head of Wastewater Operations, Nuala Woods, said:

“Everyday people flush thousands of sanitary items such as wet wipes and cotton buds down the toilet instead of simply putting them in the bin. This causes blockages in our network, pumping stations and wastewater treatment plants and can lead to sewage overflows impacting some of our most beautiful coastal and river locations. We clear approximately 10,000 blockages from our wastewater network every year.”

Nuala continued:

“We are delighted to continue our partnership with Clean Coasts to preserve and protect our environment and shine a light on the link between what you flush down the toilet and can end up at your local river or beach. We hope the pupils of Coláiste Choilm will continue to Think Before You Flush.”

Elaine Doyle, Clean Coasts Development Officer said:

“It was great to meet the students from Coláiste Choilm again, I was delighted to visit their school and so impressed with their event. The main messages left with the students were simple ones: only flush the 3P’s down the toilet, put a bin in your bathroom and be careful what you pour down the kitchen sink. You are never too young or old to make a difference!

Join the campaign at https://thinkbeforeyouflush.org/   and follow @CleanCoasts on social media. 

What Can We Do?  

Join the campaign on social media @CleanCoasts and at www.cleancoasts.org. Learn more about the Think Before You Flush campaign at https://thinkbeforeyouflush.org/