Water alert goes out to schools

CHILDREN in Oldham will be warned of the dangers of swimming in reservoirs in advance of what us expected to be a summer scorcher.

With eight drownings in North-West reservoirs over the past four years, United Utilities said it was vital to hammer home the safety message. It will tour schools in the area to give lessons on water safety.

The timing of the announcement came only days after the rescue of a 27-year-old man who became stranded on a jetty following an ill-advised dip in Dovestone reservoir.

The swimmer quickly got cramp and realised he couldn’t make it back to shore, so fire-fighters were called out and used a boat to rescue him. They said he was lucky to be alive.

Pupils at St Thomas’s Primary School, Coleridge Road, Oldham, have already heard the message, and more schools will be visited before the end of term.

Martin Padley, from United Utilities, said: “Reservoirs can seem inviting, particularly on hot days, but cooling off in them can be deadly.

“The water is so cold that people’s bodies can quickly shut down, and even the strongest swimmers can find themselves in difficulties. Hidden currents and ledges can make it extremely hard to get out.

“This campaign is about educating pupils about the dangers, from an early age. Our message to children, and to adults, is simple: never swim in a reservoir. The risks are simply not worth it.”

An education film warning of the dangers is available at www.unitedutilities.com/reservoirsafety

Families can also download activity sheets and water-safety colouring posters from the site.

Reservoirs: the chilling facts


Reservoir temperatures rarely get above 10 degrees, Celsius, even in summer. They are cold enough to take your breath away, make your arms and legs numb, and induce hypothermia.

Reservoirs are often extremely deep, with sudden drops you cannot see.

There may be hidden currents from water pipes below the surface.

Hidden obstacles, such as machinery for water treatment, broken glass or other rubbish, is commonplace.

It’s hard to get out. The sides of reservoirs are often very steep.

Invisible algae can often build up at the water edge, producing toxins that cause skin rashes and stomach upsets.

Reservoirs are often in isolated places. If you get into trouble, there may be no one around to help.