With amber heat warnings across the country this week it may be tempting to take a cooling dip in a reservoir. However, despite the beauty of Scotland’s many watercourses, swimming in them can be deadly and is discouraged by Scottish Water .
The manmade structures have many dangers lurking below the surface for swimmers. These include strong currents, underwater machinery and pipework, reeds, shockingly cold water, and steep banks.
Over half of drowning deaths happen in rivers, lakes and reservoirs each year, according to National Water Safety . Even the strongest of swimmers can be incapacitated by the shock of cold water or currents caused by water pumps.
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Government advice states : “Water in reservoirs is very cold, much colder than the sea or a river. Water in reservoirs is so cold that it causes cold-water shock which can immobilise your arms and legs which means you won’t be able to move them to stay afloat. It can also cause hypothermia which can kill.
“Reservoirs are also big storage tanks for water which have equipment under the surface which sucks the water to the treatment works. If you are in the water when the equipment starts, you will be dragged deep below the surface.”
Reservoir machinery is usually automatically operated and may start without warning whilst you’re swimming. Some reservoirs have aerators that are used in the summer months to mix thermal layers by creating air bubbles, these can cause you to suddenly lose buoyancy making it difficult to swim to safety, the Outdoor Swimming Society warns.
Peter Farrer, Chief Operating Officer at Scottish Water, warns : “Scotland is home to some of the most beautiful watercourses in the British Isles, but swimming in them can be extremely dangerous, and in some cases fatal. Risk of getting into difficulty is extremely high when swimming in an open body of water.
"Reservoirs are home to undercurrents, reeds, and extremely deep water. Getting caught up in underwater hazards or getting dragged below the surface is a real risk.”
In Scotland almost all of our 800 reservoirs are open access to the public and have been since the Land Reform Act of 2003, Outdoor Swimming Society reports. However, this doesn’t mean that they are safe for swimming.
Some reservoirs have formal open water swimming clubs where bathers are instructed to safely enjoy the water, often under lifeguard supervision. It may be worth checking to see if this is an option in your area if you are keen to swim in a reservoir.
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