Global Action Plan

Global Action Plan SustainabilityShirley Gallagher

Aim of GAPThink Global, Act localWe help the environment by bringing people together, so the more of you who come together, the better.

www.globalactionplan.ie

Green Living Teams

the worlds biggest community-based environmental programme GAP will provide you with the tools you need to make a difference. Each Team meet for 2 hours X 6weeks.

Green Living Teams contd

We explore together how to live more sustainability Pledges are taken to encourage Action which will lead towards a more sustainable way of life. Making changes is easier when we do it together with friends and neighbours rather than working alone

What sort of difference will I make?A household:Improves energy and water management, reducing CO2 emissions by 16.6% Reduces bills by 200 a year Reduce waste by 20%, Reduces water usage by 15%

IntroductionsWhy are you here?

The Water Cycle16

From the World began....16

To Dubai last decade16

Introduction70% of the Planets surface is covered in water yet less than 1% of this is fresh water.Much of this water is trapped at the poles and so the remaining fresh water is therefore precious. Planet Earth 1

The Future?16

Water Framework Directive

Transposed into Irish Law in Dec 2003 (S.I. No 722 of 2003) UMBRELLA STATUTORY INSTRUMENTSets ambitious targets for improvement of water quality by 2015 Adopts a holistic approach using chemistry , biology, ecological assessmentPresents a significant challenge for monitoring in the years aheadDefines Rivers, Groundwater, Coastal and Transitional (estuarine) waters by means of water bodies www.wfdireland.ie

Definition of Good Water status

PollutionAgricultureIndustryCity Hubs

30% of Irelands Rivers are polluted with sewage or fertiliser 7

Water treatment Plants in Ireland

The Vartry Water Treatment Plant, Co. Wicklow. Photo by Eric Luke 5Cork Main Drainage Scheme 4Donero Point Water Treatment Plant, Northern Ireland 6

Get wise about waterInform yourself about your local water situation. This puts you in a better position to have an influence over local water conditions.ActionFind out where your water comes from and where it goes.Who is responsible for the water quality of the area?Are they planning to change the way your water is treated?How can you have your say in these plans? How do you complain about water quality or report pollution incidents?17

Get wise about waterwww.epa.ie http://www.epa.ie/environmentinfocus/indicatordashboard/

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All of the water that enters your home is treated to drinking water quality yet we drink or cook with less than 5% of that waterTackle that trickle!A tap dripping at one drop per second can waste 1,550 litres of water.

A leaking toilet can use up to 45,000 litres of water in a week.

Leaks can cause secondary problems like dampness.2

Tackle that trickle! ActionGet a plumber in to fix it.

Get a book and tools and do it yourself.

Question:Should we pay for our water?

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Go with the flowAlmost 33% of water entering your home leaves via the toilet.

The water that leaves the toilet is treated as foul using many chemicals in the following sanitising process, even if the flush was just a piece of tissue.

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Go with the Flow: Action!

Never dispose of tissues down the toilet.

Do not flush after every pee. If its yellow, let it mellow, if its brown, flush it down.

Get a toilet bag or a dual flush toilet.

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Tanks a lotThe average toilet holds 9 litres of water.

This much water leaves your house every time you flush the toilet!

Scrub a dub dubWashing dishes with a tap running can use 100 litres of water.

Dishwashers use between 20-55 litres per load.

Washing machines use between 70-120 litres per load.

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Scrub a dub dub: Actions

Do small amounts of dishes by hand and always use a washing bowl

Dont pre rinse dishes for the dishwasher

Fill dishwasher

Only Wash clothes when needed

Facin the BasinLetting the tap run whilst brushing teeth for 3 minutes in the morning and 3 minutes at night can waste between 50 and 130 litres of water per day. Action When washing, run the water at low force to wet your skin and soap.Run the tap at low force to wet your toothbrush and turn the tap off whilst you clean your teeth. Fill the basin when shaving.

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Squeaky CleanA bath uses 80 litres of water, a four minute shower uses between 40 and 60 litres.

Action

Take showers instead of bathsTime length of shower. Try to reduce it to 4 minutes or lessWash instead of shower sometimes

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All Bottled UpOn average 100 cups of clean water are washed each time we let the tap run waiting for water to go cold.Running your tap for a minute can waste 22 litres of treated water. If you live in a town or city the chances are this water will be treated as sewage .ActionKeep a plastic bottle full of water in the fridge. 12

Greener GardeningWatering gardens and lawns can use lots of water. E.g. lawn sprinklers can use 800 litres per hour. Actions Water early in the morning to avoid evaporationKeep grass 5-8cm long to provide shade and keep soil moist. Place water butt under the down pipe from the house roof to collect rainwater.For small areas use watering can instead of hose.Check hose for leaks and fit an on-off trigger at nozzle end.

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Hand wash your carAutomatic washes use lots of water, detergent and energy and they cost money.ActionWash your car at home and use a bucket rather than a hose.14

Keen to be CleanThe water that gets passed through our houses are treated in plants however, many of the detergents and cleaning agents, such as bleach, are not removed and end up in rivers and the sea. ActionBuy environmentally friendly productsUse lessNever dispose of toxic chemicals e.g. paint, oil or medicines down toilet or drains.

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Rain water HarvestingCollecting rain water can be very cheap and simple. Just use a simple rain barrel or water butt under a down pipe. Use this water to wash your car or water plants or, with a bit of plumbing, flushing down the toilet!In Ireland approx. 1000 litres of water can be harvested from every square metre of roof space.NOTE rainwater is not recommended for drinking or bathing. 18

Rain water HarvestingSetting up GWH Community Garden 18