Fred the Fish and Urban Stew

An exploration of Irish Rivers & Lakes and pollution problems

The Lakes Of Killarney Beautiful

amenity Tourism Natural History Valuable

resource

Storm Water and Storm Drains Storm water is the water

produced by rainstorms and snowmelt.

When storm water falls or runs through urban areas, it often washes nutrients and toxic substances from the streets, roads and carparks into storm drains.

The water that enters the storm drains is piped into the nearest river.

But guess what?

The shocking news: MOST OF THE STORM WATER IS

NEVER TREATED AT A WATER TREATMENT FACILITY!!

So what happens when polluted storm water enters the River?

Today’s Assignment

Discover the many ways that we pollute our rivers… often without even realising it!

A river in a protected wilderness area… Imagine a clean

river as it meanders through a protected wilderness area… what would it look like?

Meet Fred the Fish

In this river lives Fred the Fish. He has lived in this stretch of river all of his life, but now he is going on adventure and will be traveling through the city as the river flows downstream.

Construction As his journey begins,

Fred swims past a large construction site where a new shopping centre is being built. There is a lot of loose soil where the land has been leveled, and as it starts to rain, some of it washes into the river. How is Fred?

Oil Fred swims under a

highway bridge. Some cars traveling across are leaking oil. The rain is washing the oil into the river below.

How is Fred?

Road Salt During a recent cold spell, ice

formed on the bridge. County Council trucks spread

salt on the road to prevent accidents. The rain is now washing salty slush into the river.

Is Fred a Salt Water Fish? We need the Salt for Safety but could we clean it up after the ice melts?

Litter and Rubbish Fred swims past the park.

Some picnickers didn’t throw their rubbish into the Bin. The wind is blowing it into the river.

How is Fred?

Pet WasteWho here has a dog?Who cleans up after their dog?!

Up ahead, a stream joins the river. Fred wants to swim fast through this stretch, because he knows the stream runs along a trail where people don’t pick up after their pets.

How is Fred?

Washing Cars As Fred nears another

neighborhood, he sees bubbles floating in the water. Someone in is washing their car on the street and the soapy water is running into the river.

How is Fred?

Fertilizers Fred nears a farming area.

Some fertilizers from the farm washed into the river a few months ago. It made the plants in the river grow very quickly, but eventually the river couldn’t provide them with all the nutrients they needed so the plants started to decay.

Their decomposition is using up some of Fred’s oxygen.

Household Hazardous Waste Finally, Fred swims past a

rubbish pile, where people have dumped everything from drink bottles to paint cans. Much of the waste is household hazardous waste that should have gone to the County Council waste collection so it would not pollute the river.

So what’s the big deal? It’s just a river, right?

The lowdown on the impact of Water pollution in the River: Plants Aquatic insects Birds Fish Ultimately, humans also suffer. Streams and rivers

provide urban wilderness areas, and they are used for recreation, agriculture, and drinking water. It is only with pollution prevention efforts by locals that waterways will remain cleans and safe.

What can we do to improve the situation locally?

Let’s go through the pollution sources again and see what ideas we have:

Soil Fertilizer Oil leaks Road salt

Litter Car washing supplies Pet waste Household hazardous

waste

Is there anything else we can do? Can we inform and involve other people about

the dangers of pollution in our waterways and ways to prevent it

Who can we educate? Families, other students, teachers, churches, community councils, youth groups, etc.

How can we educate? 2 ways!

Protect your local water resources

Can your school adopt a local stretch of river or lake?

Can you find out about water quality in your area?

Tell others!

You can present your Green Schools Water Conservation in Geography or Science class to the rest of the school.

You can tell the story of Fred the Fish! Use environmentally friendly cleaning

products in school and at home!