SEVERN Trent is reminding people of the dangers of swimming in its reservoirs and other open water during the warm weather, writes Tanya Hewitt.
The provider issued the warning as the heatwave is set to continue into the weekend and temperatures forecast to stay above 30°C.
Severn Trent manages visitor sites which provide activities such as walking, cycling and water sports, but swimming in reservoirs poses hidden dangers.
Donna Marshall, visitor engagement manager at Severn Trent, said the company looked forward to welcoming visitors to its sites during the expected sunny, dry weekend.
However, she warned that reservoirs are operational sites and can be extremely cold, even on hot days. Strong currents, steep sides, underwater machinery and hazards mean even strong swimmers may get into trouble.
Severn Trent takes visitor safety seriously and asks people not to risk swimming in reservoirs without lifeguards or designated swim areas.
Reservoir swimming brings risks such as drowning from cold water shock, powerful currents from underwater machinery, rapidly deepening water and hidden dangers including weeds, rocks, and toxic algae.
Severn Trent welcomes visitors to enjoy its sites safely. It aims to remain conscious of visitor dangers from entering reservoir water and asks people not to take that risk. Visit https://www.stwater.co.uk/our-visitor-sites/ for more information.
