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Successful Community Clean-Up of River Barrow and Duiske

A clean-up of the River Barrow and Duiske River took place on Saturday 23^rd September from 10.30am-3pm. The Clean-Up was organised by the Local Authority Waters and Communities Office, with local Community Water Officer, Ann Phelan taking the lead on this event.

Outdoor Gear Ireland, local Rowing and Canoe Clubs and other volunteers from the community all turned up and assisted on the day.

“We concentrated on the stretch of the River Barrow from Clashganny Lock down below Butlers Lock to a place known locally as Scusha. Equally so, we took a section of the Duiske River, starting at the Creamery, working our way down to the entrance into the River Barrow”
Community Water Officer, Ann Phelan

Ann confirmed that the level of pollution in the form of plastics and general refuse was quite overwhelming and due to the overgrowth of briers, weeds and dense foliage it proved very difficult to access many areas to retrieve all of the rubbish, perseverance and the determined efforts of the volunteers paid off as almost all of the rubbish was retrieved from the river corridor.

“Empty alcohol bottles, cans, plastics bottles, paint cans, traffic cones, even a bicycle and tricycle were pulled from the river and its banks.” –
Community Volunteer, Martin O’Brien

Another volunteer outlined that:

“It really is inconceivable in this day and age, when environmental awareness is so much to the fore in the media and in education systems that so much waste is being disposed of so inappropriately”.

“This is really only the beginning, there is a lot of rubbish further down stream that needs to be tackled, but with the continued input of volunteers from our community and our local clubs, it will be achieved. Bio diversity is extremely important and attaining and maintaining good quality water status benefits everyone and everything, from humans to the tiniest of water organisms.”
“We all have a civic and personal duty to look after the natural environment because water is part of our heritage and we are merely caretakers for the next generation”.
Community Water Officer, Ann Phelan speaking after the event

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EPA Catchments Unit

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The EPA Catchments Unit is based in Dublin, and the team is involved with catchment science, chemistry, ecology, hydromorphology, modelling, Geographic Information Systems and planning. We work with the wider EPA, all of our local authorities, the Local Authority Waters and Communities Office, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, and other public bodies and Departments to ensure we have the best available data and information about our catchments.

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