Wexford Primary Schools Invited to Create a Monster Fatberg

Primary school pupils across County Wexford are being invited to get creative — and as gruesome as possible — in a new nationwide competition aimed at raising awareness about sewer blockages.

The Think Before You Flush campaign has launched the competition to mark its 10th anniversary, challenging pupils aged eight to ten to create their own model fatbergs ahead of Halloween.

Fatbergs are large sewer blockages caused when inappropriate items such as wet wipes, sanitary products and other materials are flushed down toilets.

They can clog wastewater pipes, contribute to sewage overflows and cause environmental damage to rivers, beaches and wildlife.

Schools are being encouraged to create their model fatbergs using clean craft or recycled materials, with entries welcomed from full classes. Multiple classes from the same school can also take part.

The winning school will receive a €1,000 cash prize and a special visit from the Clean Coasts team on World Toilet Day, Thursday, November 19th.

The competition is being run by Clean Coasts, An Taisce in partnership with Uisce Éireann.

Uisce Éireann says around 10,000 blockages are removed from the wastewater network every year, with wet wipes and other incorrectly flushed items contributing to many of them.

The campaign is reminding households that only the three Ps — pee, poo and toilet paper — should be flushed down the toilet. Everything else should go in the bin.

Uisce Éireann’s Head of Wastewater Operations, Nuala Woods, said the competition provides children with a practical way to learn how everyday habits can affect wastewater systems and the wider environment.

Clean Coasts Campaign Officer Maria-Assunta Lawton said the competition is designed to make a serious environmental issue fun and engaging for children, while encouraging them to bring the message home to their families.

The campaign has also highlighted one of the world’s best-known fatbergs, discovered in Whitechapel in London almost a decade ago. It measured around 250 metres long and weighed an estimated 130 tonnes.

Schools interested in entering can find full competition details and the Schools Information Pack at ThinkBeforeYouFlush.org.