Gonzaga College
Sandford Road
Ranelagh
Dublin 6
Ireland
Contact Info
Tel: (01) 497 2931
Fax: (01) 496 7769
Email: info@gonzaga.ie
Web: www.gonzaga.ie
See our Location
Calendar
Gallery
Website Archive
Green Schools Committee visit Ringsend Water Treatment Facility
On the Thursday the 22nd of March the Gonzaga Green Schools Committee embarked on
a trip to the Ringsend Water Treatment Facility. There was a total on eight committee
members on the trip ranging from 1st to 4th year. We were also accompanied by Ms.
S. McNamara (The College Librarian) and Ms. B. Rooney (The College Administrator).
At 10:15 we let class and departed from the school to Ringsend. When we arrived
we were given a very detailed presentation by Mr. Paddy Higgins about the history
of water treatment and the history of the facility. He also explained about how water
treatment works in Ringsend and then gave us a tour of the facility.
Firstly sludge has the large objects removed such as grit and other large objects.
Grease, fats and oils are also removed at this point. The solids are then separated
from the liquid at this point. The solids or sludge are converted into a fertilizer
by use of heat and gas. There is also a byproduct gas from this process which accounts
for 40% of the facilities energy.
The water is then stored in a variety of different tanks to allow remaining smaller
solids to gather at the bottom of the tanks. There is also oxygen added at a later
stage to further clean it. Whilst in these tanks there are micro-organisms which
eat through the bacteria in the tanks and produce the byproduct of nitrogen. When
the water leaves this secondary treatment area it is clean enough to return to the
sea although it is checked before it is pumped into the sea. During the bathing season
of May to August there is a third form of treatment. This is exposing the water to
ultraviolent light to disinfect it. The water is then sufficient to return into the
sea. If the water was to be clean enough to drink it would need to go through a fourth
stage of treatment as happens in London.
At the end of the process there completely clean water pumped into the sea and a
byproduct of a fertilizer. There are no harmful byproducts from the sewage. The facility
is very environmentally friendly and the Dublin Bay Project is one which allows for
water to be treated to the maximum possible level.
In conclusion the trip was very enjoyable and insightful. At this point I would like
to thank Ms. Rooney and Ms. McNamara for bringing us on the trip and Barry Mulvey
for organizing it.
Mark Finn, S3A
IKEA trip- Green schools committee
On Thursday the 29th of March, the members of the Green schools committee once again
set forth upon a school tour. The eleven of us ventured, this time, to the vast IKEA
centre. We departed at 10:15 and travelled there by coach.
When we arrived we were met by the IKEA sustainability manager for the environmentally
friendly measures taken by the Dublin branch of the company. He delivered a very
explanatory presentation on the steps taken by IKEA to ensure fair trade, well-treated
labourers and eco-friendliness within the organisation; this also covered details
on the IKEA policies towards human rights promotion and recycling. Following this
we were taken down to the workshop area of the store, where we were shown how IKEA
fixed damaged products for reuse instead of disposing of them.
Once our guide had finished giving his talk about his work in the company, we were
treated to a meal in their restaurant. During this time to ourselves we were able
to see the measures IKEA had taken to become more efficient and environmentally friendly,
first hand. We were also each offered some complimentary pencils as we left. Having
finished our lunch we found our way out of the shop and back to our bus.
In short, the trip successfully demonstrated to us the requirements of a company
such as IKEA in order to improve our planets pollution levels. We were also impressed
by their work in human rights. The tour was very helpful and I would like to thank
both IKEA and those within the school who organised it.
Laurence Childs 3B
The Green Schools Committee
Green Schools is an international project. It aims towards a more sustainable future.
In Ireland it is run by An Taisce. It awards Green Flags to schools for their environmental
awareness.
More information can be found at; www.greenschoolsireland.org
The Gonzaga Green Committee originally started as a Third year CSPE action project
led by Mr. O’Connor. When people noticed that this could greatly effect the school’s
carbon emissions and energy waste and so on, they started a committee consisting
of staff, students, The Headmaster and maintenance staff.
The first Chairperson and Secretary were Hugh O’Flanagan and Ben McRedmond, both
in S3A in the year 2007.
Since then the Committee has been awarded 3 Green Flags. The first we received was
Litter and Waste, followed by Energy and most recently Water.
We are now starting work once again towards the next Green Flag: Transport.
Recently the Chairperson and Secretary, Will Dunleavy and Barry Mulvey, stepped down.
Pádraig Sheehy S2D and I have taken on the roles.
This year was an extremely productive one. Students and staff both worked very hard
to achieve the Green Flag. I hope that we can achieve the same goals and be just
as productive.
If any students would like to get involved, please contact me at greensecretarygonzaga@gmail.com
Neil O’Flanagan S2C
Green Schools Committee Secretary.
G
Gonzaga was awarded its third green flag on Monday 20 May for its work on reducing
water usage.
Photograph shows Green Schools committee members William Dunleavy,
Padraic Sheehy
and
Barry Mulvey
with the flag at Croke Park, where the awards ceremony took place.
