Communities in Carmarthenshire help water campaign

The Yellow Fish campaign aims to reduce pollution in our waterways by making people think twice before pouring oil, paints, solvents or chemicals into surface water drains or gullies on the side of the road. Anything poured into these drains ends up in rivers and streams.

Many people are unaware that these materials can poison fish and wildlife and smother plants – and because of the way these contaminants spread, it takes only a tiny amount to harm the water environment.

Campaign organisers, Keep Wales Tidy, are delighted to announce that this year Carmarthenshire Council has agreed permission for community groups and schools to get involved with the campaign. Following the success of last year’s Yellow Fish Campaign, seventeen local authorities across Wales are giving their support of Yellow Fish and Keep Wales Tidy are pleased that Carmarthenshire are joining the campaign.

The campaign, funded by Natural Resources Wales and organised by Keep Wales Tidy, takes place throughout July 2013 and sees schoolchildren and community groups across Wales painting stencils of fish on pavements near drains to raise awareness that anything poured down them will come into contact with wildlife.

With fifty two events already organised across Wales, it is an ideal opportunity for schools, community groups and businesses in Carmarthenshire to help raise awareness of water pollution in their local area. Volunteers simply use their free kit to choose a safe area and mark drains with the Yellow Fish sign. Following this, awareness is raised locally with leaflets and posters.

Free Yellow Fish kits will be provided on a first-come first-served basis. Kits include everything needed to take part: stencil, paint, gloves, a hi-vis vest, safety goggles, a guidance manual and a typical risk assessment.

Keep Wales Tidy Chief Executive Lesley Jones comments:

“This is an exciting project for both Keep Wales Tidy and Natural Resources Wales and we hope that it will inspire local communities to take action against water pollution. This is a fun opportunity for schools, families, community groups and businesses to get involved and help protect our environment. It was encouraging to see more local authorities grant permission for events to take place in 2013 and help us spread the message. ”

Kyle Young from Natural Resources Wales says:

“This is an innovative way to raise awareness about how we can reduce pollution in our communities. The yellow fish will make people stop and think before pouring away waste liquids.

“Quite often, people just aren’t aware of the implications of what can happen when they pour pollutants into surface drains and this campaign will start to change that. Local authorities now have excellent recycling sites where people can dispose of old paints, oil and other potentially dangerous substances safely.”

If you live in Carmarthenshire and would like to get involved please go to http://keepwalestidy.org/gettinginvolved/yellowfish or e-mail yellow.fish@keepwalestidy.org for more information and a free Yellow Fish kit.