Clean Coasts and Irish Water select Belmullet as a Think Before You Flush community

ALONG with 14 other cities and towns, Belmullet has been chosen as a Think Before You Flush community.

Clean Coasts together with Irish Water are launching the third year of the Think Before You Flush campaign as the utility reveals that there are an estimated 4,600 sewer blockages across the country this year due to inappropriate items being flushed down toilets.

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 the marine environment.

Clean Coasts and Irish Water will be delivering educational workshops in schools, promoting the campaign at festivals and community events and working with businesses in these communities.

Speaking about the campaign, Siobhan Sheil, Irish Water, said: “Irish Water is delighted to partner with Clean Coasts on this important educational campaign. We estimate that there has been over 4,600 sewer blockages across the country this year already. The scale of the impact of flushing the wrong items down the toilet is incredible.

She added: “The new €9 million wastewater treatment plant in Belmullet caters for over 1,000 local people and visitors to the area. This will greatly enhance and protect the tourism industry in the coastal town.”

Sinead McCoy, Clean Coasts manager, said: “Sewage-related litter is one of the categories of waste we find on our beaches, but its presence is preventable through some simple measures. Through this campaign we are working with Irish Water to change the nation’s flushing behaviour, which will make a difference to our coastal environment.”

The provision of the new wastewater treatment plant in Belmullet by Irish Water will bring benefits to the town and surrounding areas in terms of health, environmental protection and improved water quality for all.

For more information about the Think Before You Flush initative, visit www.thinkbeforyouflush.org.