Ms Barry’s and Ms Frazer’s 6th class girls were involved in Limerick’s Junior Open House. We were invited to Clareville Water Treatment Plant. Here the girls were given a tour of the plant. It began at the canal and we saw the water from the River Shannon before it is treated. All the girls were shown the different steps that are followed in order to make the water safe to drink. Firstly, the leaves are screened off. Next, aluminium sulphate and sulphuric acid are mixed into the water. This clears sediment and makes the water clear. Sand and a special glue is then used to filter the remaining particles before lime is added to make the water ok to drink. Every month this process produces 500 tonnes of sludge! Instead of sending this waste to the landfill the treatment plant are being environmentally friendly and proactive by reusing this waste as compost. Before the water is pumped to the city reservoirs chlorine, (to disinfect the water) fluoride (to protect our teeth) and phosphors (to protect the water from the led in pipes) is added. Lastly, we were shown the original water works building that once used turbines powered by the River Shannon to bring the treated water into the city reservoirs. The new plant uses electricity to power the pumps.
All the girls enjoyed the trip and now know how and why the water in our taps is safe to drink!