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> Sustainable Urban Drainage (SUDs) as our innovative solution: Rain gardens: a nature-based solution to capture urban rainwater run-off and reduce pollution from combined sewer overflows into the River Mill. (Major factor for pollution at Lady's Bay) > Design, create and educate to promote positive behaviour at the beach > Marine literacy education programme for primary and secondary pupils
Our Social Issue
Urban effects on water quality in our home town of Buncrana. Lady’s Bay was closed from June - September 2023, it was one of only 3 bathing waters in Ireland that had POOR water quality in 2022. The beach area is also an area of concern for marine litter especially during the bust tourist season and days of good weather. The Northwest is an important marine site and is home to rare and endangered species of sharks, skates and rays, over 25 species of whales and dolphins and 38 species of seabirds. However, the impact of climate change, pollution, a loss of biodiversity and reduced fish stocks can clearly be seen.
Why We Chose It
Our school is a five minute walk to the polluted beach at Lady’s Bay. Most people our age and older learned to swim at our local beach. This is no longer the case with the dangerous levels of pollution due to over flow of waste water management from heavy rainfall due to Climate Change. We, as a group, are inspired by the words of Li An Phoa, an environmental activist, “The sign of a healthy economy should be a drinkable river,” Li An’s movement proposes to use drinkable rivers, as a replacement for economic growth.
Our Goal
We hope to achieve a clean marine environment free of pollution as well as reduce flooding, through education, design and using nature based solutions, to be enjoyed by future generations. We hope to inspire local businesses to take a more active role in ensuring our coastal community is free of litter caused by single use packaging. We hope to convince local government that nature based solutions such as (SUDs) should be encouraged nationally before its too late. Grants and education need to be provided to all households to encourage uptake under the household sustainability incentive scheme.
Our Innovative Action
We hope to achieve a clean marine environment free of pollution as well as reduce flooding, through education, design and using nature based solutions, to be enjoyed by future generations.
Our Impact
Our school is a five minute walk to the polluted beach at Lady’s Bay. Most people our age and older learned to swim at our local beach. This is no longer the case with the dangerous levels of pollution due to over flow of waste water management from heavy rainfall due to Climate Change. We, as a group, are inspired by the words of Li An Phoa, an environmental activist, “The sign of a healthy economy should be a drinkable river,” Li An’s movement proposes to use drinkable rivers, as a replacement for economic growth.