Local NI Water staff prove they are champs

NI Water team member and environmental champion Eamon Tennyson, who is from Castledawson, will be out and about near you educating the public about NI Water’s key environmental initiatives in the coming months.

Eamon is one of several champions from across NI Water who will be informing and educating school pupils, community groups and the general public on NI Water’s key environmental campaigns including water efficiency and ‘The Dirty Dozen’.

Everyone in Northern Ireland uses approximately 155 litres of water each a day, much of which is wasted. The champions will be encouraging the public to “Use Water Wisely” by turning off the tap when brushing their teeth, having a shower instead of a bath and using a watering can, not a hose, when watering the garden.

The champions will also be promoting NI Water’s ‘Dirty Dozen’ campaign, which raises awareness of the damage caused by the flushing of inappropriate items.

Every day, hundreds of disposable items like baby wipes, cleaning wipes, cotton buds and nappies get flushed down the toilet, blocking our sewerage systems and sometimes ending up on our beaches. Around 16,000 sewer blockages are cleared every year, the majority of which are avoidable.

The champions will be reminding the public to only flush the 3 Ps: Pee, Poo and Paper - everything else should go in the bin.

Angela Halpenny, NI Water’s Head of Environmental Regulation, said: “We had a fantastic response from many colleagues across NI Water keen to become environmental champions.

“The champions will be able to use their skills to influence and educate both young people and adults across Northern Ireland, helping to spread the message of saving water and not flushing inappropriate items down the toilet, thus reducing the number of blockages, spills and discharges that impact upon the environment. This will not only improve services to NI Water customers, but will help to protect and enhance our natural environment for all to enjoy.”