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Jamie Cudden – Smart Dublin, Roy O’Connor – Dublin City Council, Thomas Carolan – LAWPRO, Daire Keogh – DCU President, Anna Hayes Citizen Science Officer, Dr. Susan Hegarty DCU Water Institute & School of History and Geography at the Waterblitz 2022 close off.
On the 17th of October, one week after the official closure of the 2022 WaterBlitz, the DCU WaterBlitz team of Ruth Clinton, Anna Hayes, Prof. Fiona Regan and Dr. Susan Hegarty invited WaterBlitz sponsors LAWPRO, Dublin City Council and Smart Dublin to the Water Institute Hub to showcase some of the initial findings.
The numbers presented were staggering and the extremely successful event proved to be the best and biggest WaterBlitz so far with a total of over 700 samples taken and 700 participants taking part. Samples were taken from water bodies in each of 26 counties which was a first since the Water Institute began to host the WaterBlitzes in 2019.
The groups that took part in the Waterblitz came from every corner of the country and included river groups, river trusts and environmental groups, such as the Dodder Action group, Inishowen River Trust, the Bride Project, and so many more. There were 8 freshwater swimming groups, 4 kayaking groups, 2 angling groups and even a sub aqua group participated! The willingness and enthusiasm from groups who took part was incredible – 16 tidy towns and 18 schools who participated made a day of it and collected incredible data.
Initial findings of the water quality results are extremely interesting and early reviews of the data show very similar patterns to the EPA Water Quality Report released last Friday 14th of October which indicates that water quality is degrading in the south and southeast of the country when compared to the west and northwest. The WI team will continue to review the data while verifying all of the locations over the coming weeks before compiling it into a report for all stakeholders to read.
After the presentation to the sponsors, the team invited members and friends of the Water Institute to visit the newly refurbished Water Hub. This space is located at the front of the University on the Glasnevin campus and is an amazing place to host guests such as corporates, mini groups, school classes, and Water Cafes of course! The space now has refreshment facilities along with a hot desk for people on the move.
The Water Institute team was delighted that DCU President Daire Keogh could drop in to thank the Waterblitz sponsors for their support on a project that is so important to the University, to thank the Water Institute team for their hard work, and to express his good wishes for the Water Hub.