{"id":16376,"date":"2022-05-16T16:36:03","date_gmt":"2022-05-16T14:36:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/?p=115268"},"modified":"2022-05-16T16:53:15","modified_gmt":"2022-05-16T14:53:15","slug":"is-it-safe-to-swim-in-a-reservoir","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/rss_feed\/is-it-safe-to-swim-in-a-reservoir\/","title":{"rendered":"Is it safe to swim in a reservoir?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Freya Parr\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Monday, 16 May 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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The Kinder Mass Trespass<\/a> of 1932 saw 400 ramblers climbing Kinder Scout in protest, an event that went down in history as having helped establish the principle of open access land, laying the foundations for the introduction of the UK\u2019s National Parks. This year, on 26 April \u2013 the 90th anniversary of this event \u2013 the Outdoor Swimming Society<\/a> organised a \u2018swim trespass\u2019 of Kinder Reservoir in an attempt to call for greater access rights to reservoirs and bodies of water around the UK.<\/p>\n

But even if we could legally swim in reservoirs, is it actually safe to do so?<\/p>\n

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\u201cThey turn up in wetsuits,\u201d said Mark Seymour, UU\u2019s catchment manager for Manchester, last year<\/a>. \u201cThey\u2019re usually adults, and are setting a dangerous example because other younger people might see them swimming and get the wrong impression that it\u2019s OK to swim too. These open-water swimmers could indirectly be the cause of another drowning tragedy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Where else can I swim outdoors?<\/h4>\n
Wild swimming in Britain: water safety and how to get started<\/a><\/li>\n
Britain\u2019s best lidos and seaside pools<\/a><\/li>\n
Best wild swimming spots in Britain<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>
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Why are you not allowed to swim in Kinder Reservoir?<\/h2>\n
\u201cKinder Reservoir is an operational site with deep, cold water and hidden hazards,\u201d says a spokesperson from United Utilities, the company that owns the reservoir. \u201cThe reservoir is constantly supplying water for the Stockport area so there are also strong currents below the surface.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Is it illegal to swim in reservoirs in the UK?<\/h2>\n
In Scotland, swimmers enjoy the right to swim freely in almost all Scottish reservoirs, thanks to the 2003 Land Reform Act and \u2018right to roam\u2019.<\/p>\n
In the rest of the UK, issues arise in the fact that reservoirs are usually owned by water companies. The Water Industry Act 1991 stated that water companies must \u2018ensure that the water or land is made available for recreational purposes and is so made available in the best manner.\u2019<\/p>\n
Although they have a legal duty to provide public access for recreation to the land and water, many have a \u2018no swimming\u2019 rule in practice \u2013\u00a0despite the fact that they allow fishing and boating. Essentially, it is down to the discretion of the water company or landowner.<\/p>\n
Since the increase of interest and engagement<\/a> in wild spaces since the Covid-19 lockdowns of 2020 and 2021, landowners and water supply companies are worried about the impact the increased footfall may have on their reservoirs.<\/span><\/p>\n
Is swimming in reservoirs dangerous?<\/h2>\n
Because of the man-made nature of reservoirs, they do carry additional risks to other bodies of water. However, the Outdoor Swimming Society have argued that they are also free of risks such as flow, currents and tides \u2013 all hazards you can expect in rivers and the sea.<\/p>\n
What are the pros?<\/h2>\n
Reservoirs generally have high water quality, because they are carefully managed and are built upstream from significant areas of pollution. Unlike many other rivers and lakes, reservoirs are fairly clean.<\/p>\n
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