Do you ever get the sense that your phone battery doesn’t last as long as it used to? Have you ever had a laptop refuse to turn on, only to find out that it still works when plugged into the mains? Why batteries behave the way they do over time in our appliances and what you can do once they’re spent is explained in another great video from Ted Ed Daily. Watch hereunder. Why do batteries die in the first place? And what should you do with them once they’re spent?
Almost all batteries, even single-use batteries, are theoretically rechargeable. That’s because the metals and other chemicals are still there in the battery. So chemically speaking, a dead battery is actually not that different from a fresh one.
Tipperary Remedial Action List at the end of 2022.
However, many supplies still lack robust treatment measures to guarantee their long-term resilience and safety. The EPA’s Remedial Action List (RAL) identifies “at-risk” supplies that require improvements to safeguard public health. In 2022, the number of people served by public water supplies on the RAL increased to nearly 481,000, up from 374,000 at the end of 2021.
Construction of a new plant at Lee Road (Cork City) and its removal from the RAL represents significant progress in 2022. Strategic progress has also been made in other areas such as disinfection and making the lead remediation grant easier for the public to access.
Launching the report, Dr Tom Ryan, EPA Director said: “Our public water quality remains very high, which means that the public can be confident that the drinking water supplied to their homes is safe to drink. Uisce Éireann has made good progress in delivering necessary new drinking water infrastructure such as the new plant at Lee Road in Cork which now supplies high quality drinking water to 97,000 people.
However, the EPA through our inspection and monitoring programme, continues to identify drinking water plants that are at risk and require improvements and upgrades. At the end of 2022, there were 481,000 people being served by at risk supplies on EPA’s RAL. Uisce Éireann needs to prioritise investment in those plants to improve the resilience of drinking supplies, to provide a safe and secure supply into the future.”
In addition, the growing number of people affected by persistent THM (Trihalomethane) failures, now at 235,000 people, is of particular concern. Greater effort is needed by Uisce Éireann to implement improvements at supplies to minimise exposure to THM’s, including at major supplies such as Limerick City and the Barrow supply in Kildare.
With regard to lead in drinking water, Mr Noel Byrne, EPA Programme Manager, said: “Lead in our drinking water is a cumulative risk to human health. Progress to remove lead from our drinking water supply networks, public buildings and affected homes is far too slow. The EPA welcomes the expansion of the lead remediation grant scheme, which will ease the financial burden on homeowners to replace lead piping. However, leadership is required at national level to address lead in public supplies. Uisce Éireann must accelerate the rollout of their lead mitigation plan and Government departments must outline their plan for lead replacement in public buildings as part of the National Lead Strategy.”
List of the supplies currently on a Boil Water Notice or Water Restriction (as of 28/07/2023)
In 2022, boil water notices impacted 182,000 people; a slight improvement since 2021. One third of boil water notices were in place for more than 30 days. The EPA recognise the challenges that boil water notices pose to individuals and communities, but they are essential to safeguard public health. The risk of boil water notices on some supplies will remain until Uisce Éireann takes proactive measures to address the underlying causes and improve the resilience of these supplies.
The EPA Drinking Water Quality in Public Supplies 2022 Report and the complete list of public water supplies currently on the Remedial Action List – including details of the proposed remedial measures and associated timeframes – are available on the EPA website.
Weather-wise, here in Thurles, Co. Tipperary today Thursday, July 27th, we saw a mix of light cloud and sunny spells, with just isolated passing showers and moderate west to south-west winds. with Temperatures reached between 18°C and 20°C.
With temperatures reaching 20°C today In Thurles, honey bees took the opportunity to move house. Picture: G. Willoughby (27th July, 2023)
Tonight should see a continuation of mixed clear spells and scattered showers with lowest temperatures of 9°C to 13°C, with light westerly winds changing to become more southerly.
Tomorrow morning, Friday, July 28th, we should awaken again, to sunny spells and scattered showers. However, it will turn cloudier at times during the afternoon and evening, as a band of more frequent and heavier showers moves from the west. We can expect highest temperatures of 16°C to 20°C, with light to moderate south to southwest winds.
On Friday night, rain showers should ease early with clear spells developing, however, more frequent heavy showers will move in from the west later. Lowest temperatures of 10°C to 12°C.
On Saturday, we can expect blustery winds, again with sunny spells and scattered showers, some possibly turning heavy with slightly higher temperatures of 17°C to 20°C. Similar weather is expected across Tipperary on Saturday night, again with lowest temperatures of 10°C to 12°C, and with moderate westerly winds.
On Sunday, again we can expect sunny spells and occasional scattered showers, with highest temperatures of 17°C to 20°C with a more south-westerly breeze.
So if you plan to be out and about in the open air, enjoying the beautiful scenery in Co. Tipperary this weekend, our best advice to you is to pack that lightweight rain jacket and or an umbrella.
Let’s be real here, the Irish postcard era of dry stonewalls; mountain sheep blocking narrow roads against a background of green wide open spaces; bare footed children escorting forlorn overladen donkeys, latter carrying creels of turf; same can no longer be effectuated by our Irish National Tourism Development Authority. We have slid decidedly backwards, as a small island from this once attractive rural tourism marketing ploy, selling relaxation, peace and solitude. This so called relaxed way of life has for many years been consigned to old God Almighties time.
Dublin derives its name from the Irish “dubh linn” – meaning “black-pool”, but recent years and given recent events, it is understandable why some may view Dublin City Centre as more of a “cess-pool” at the moment. Dublin City Centre has lost its charm – and then some. The celebrated central thoroughfares and winding pavements we used to so celebrate in countless spoken verse and lyrics are now more synonymous with anti-social behaviour, faceless boarded shop facades, crime, litter, homelessness, drug use and even violence, generated in many cases by greed.
Same is thanks to a small group of teenage thugs, permitted by their negligent and often absent parents, to roam our capitol’s city streets, exempt from punishment and from the injurious consequences of their purposeful actions.
An area on Stradavoher Street, Thurles, near the scene where a number of homes were destroyed by mysterious fire, over the more recent past. The number shown as 666 is identified as the ‘Number of the Beast’ as mentioned in the Book of Revelation (Chapter 13, verse 18) and is explicit in anti-Christian subcultures.
Sadly, in a travel advisory warning this week, the US Embassy in Dublin, refers to what they call “a number of recently reported incidents”, while stating that travellers should immediately safeguard their valuables e.g. credit cards, bank cards, passports etc., while refraining from carrying large amounts of cash.
The Dublin US Embassy also encourages all their American visiting citizens to be aware of their actual surroundings while visiting in Ireland, especially when travelling in unfamiliar places; attending crowded locations and empty streets; and especially if obliged to walk alone, during the hours of darkness.
Sitting opposite Thurles Cathedral, latter building one of the few remaining tourist attractions in Thurles not removed by local councillors, is the privately owned eyesore and blot on the landscape, known as the Munster Hotel.
But it is not just Dublin streets. Here in areas of Thurles also, the broken windows theory has become totally ignored.
For those not familiar with the “Broken Windows Theory”, same states that visible signs of disorder and misbehaviour in an environment will encourage further disorder and misbehaviour, leading to the committal of further both minor and serious crime. This principle amply explains the decay of neighbourhoods.
Thinly layered, lightly printed cloth banners, say ‘Welcome To Thurles‘, I think!
Meanwhile, in an attempt to make tourists feel at home, (same having inadvertently lost their way while travelling to South Tipperary, to find themselves in this jobless conurbation called Thurles); four thinly layered, lightly printed cloth banners, welcoming people to the Liberty Square area of this potholed town, have long since become entangled around their sky hooks, courtesy of our light summer breezes. One wonders how much travelling expenses were generated by the members who met to sanction this cheap tourism fresh approach.
One notes too that our town’s neglect and potholes are a reflection of poor management at County Council and Urban District level. Thurles, despite some ills, is still a town worth visiting for its history, arts, sports and much more. Like so many other urban areas, however, it risks further deterioration and destruction, if we accept ‘broken windows’ and become complacement about the failures and inadequacies of our elected community leaders and County Councils.
The solution to this growing problem of anti-social behaviour is not just placing extra Gardaí on our streets. It includes our justice system ensuring to punish wrong doers as well as local communities co-operating with Gardaí, who for the most part are more than anxious to facilitate change.
A reminder to all our readers, on Saturday next, July 22nd 2023, a WEEE [ Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment] authorised collection point will be at Mid Tipp Co-Op Mart, Ballycarrane, Thurles, Co. Tipperary from 10:00am – 4:00pm.
WEEE collection point dates for other towns in Co. Tipperary are also shown in the columns hereunder.
Date.
County.
Town.
Local Site Name.
Time.
Thurs 20th July 2023.
Tipperary.
Cashel.
Lidl Car Park, Cahir Road, Spafield, Cashel.
Full Day 10am – 4pm.
Sat 22nd July2023.
Tipperary.
Thurles.
Mid Tipp Co-Op Mart, Ballycarrane, Thurles.
Full Day 10am – 4pm.
Tues 25th July 2023.
Tipperary.
Roscrea.
Lidl Car Park, Birr Road, Raheens. Roscrea.
Full Day 10am – 4pm.
Sat 29th July 2023.
Tipperary.
Templemore.
Co-Op Mart, Bank Street, Templemore.
Full Day 10am – 4pm.
Sat 12th Aug 2023.
Tipperary.
Cahir.
Cahir Co-Op Mart, Cashel Road, Cahir.
Full Day 10am – 4pm.
As most readers are aware, the service is totally free. But do remember, WEEE material is mostly anything with a plug normally attached.
They will accept: TVs and their Aerials, Radios, Microwaves, IT Equipment, Printers, Dishwashers, Cookers, Fridges, Freezers, Power Tools, Vacuum Cleaners, Battery Operated Toys, Electric Toothbrushes, Kettles, Toasters, Batteries, Energy Saving Lightbulbs and other associated items.
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