Swimming in Kinder Reservoir

So irresponsible. Some people just don't think.

There is a big difference between young people in their ignorance thinking it is fine just to jump into a reservoir and swim, unaware of the dangers and a group of all weather swimmers doing something like this.

My DD is a open water swimmer, and swims outside all year round and she has talked to me about the preparation made before a swim in cold water. They never swim alone, always in a group. The personal routines, including checking on the group and how the swim will be organised and the routines they go through when they get out to ensure their well-being are clearly set out and anyone who didn't follow them would soon be ejected from the group. Many of them will also be wearing wet suits.

Whatever the pros and cons of this particular protest. Are you really suggesting that all open water swimming should be banned because some young people act foolishly and jump into reservoirs without preparation?

If you do that then you will need to ban all those that go hillwalking or mountain climbing, because seeing trained experienced people doing it may encourage other people to do it who have neither the skill or experience, or marathon running because it might encourage unfit untrained people to do themselves harm trying to run long distances.

Where is Kinder Reservoir?

Ali08

Where is Kinder Reservoir?

The High Peak in Derbyshire

Should people swim in a water storage reservoir anyway? I wouldn’t want to drink their germs.

All of the water here is pretty disgusting nanna8. It’s full of sewage

As some of you know I m a year round sea dipper/swimmer but I think that safety has to be paramount in ANY water based activity you just cannot cut corners and do what you want
Swimming in this reservoir hasn’t been banned to spoil people’s fun or their right to swim in the open it’s been done purely for their safety

We recognise the right to protest, but we have to remind anyone thinking of taking a dip that the reason we don’t allow swimming is because it is very dangerous.

Kinder reservoir is an operational site with deep, cold water and hidden hazards. The reservoir is constantly supplying water for the Stockport area so there are also strong currents below the surface.. it is also entered by a steep and bumpy road, these protesters are being head strong and setting a bad example to young people who will follow their lead maybe on a hot day and could lead to life loss
Most things are forbidden for a reason and this is definitely one of them

Resrvoirs are widely used for all kinds of leisure pursuits, including wild swimming. Some years ago I belonged to a sailing club that sailed on Datchet reservoir. I have just googled them, it is now a large business offering all kinds of water sports, including power boating on the reservoir.

Thames Water wants to drown our local area under a huge reservoir and one of the incentives will be the opportunity to use it for water-based leisure facilities.

Reservoir water doesn't come straight from the reservoir into our pipes. It is drawn off the reservoir and then goes through treatment works to make sure it meets the required standards of purity and cleanliness before entering the water system. This happens to water from all sources.

But surely what the OP about is not about the protest itself, but about a mass organised wild swim acting as an incentive to youngsters swimming in their local reservoir on a hot day.

As I said, reservoir swimming by organised groups of wild swimmers who know the dangers and have rules about how wild swimming takes place is a completely different thing

This is an organised trespass. Commemorating in part the Kinder Trespass of 24th April 1932 which led to the opening up of many areas to public access. The Scots have had open access to reservoirs for swimming since 2003. Many reservoirs are available for swimming and the water companies that own the reservoirs have a responsibility in law to provide leisure facilities. The evidence is that those actually taking part in wild swimming are not the people who drown.
www.outdoorswimmingsociety.com/sixteen-reasons-reservoirs/

I’d never do it or condone it happening, because it’s dangerous. A boy in my class at school drowned because he was sucked by the current into the reservoir water exit, we were 9.

That’s fine. I just wanted to know whether you thought ignoring advice was a good idea or not. A couple of our staff (not me!) do wild water swimming, but won’t be there for the event. As the younger one said, “If someone sees me there, the cries about teachers being irresponsible and setting a bad example would be on the news.”
Teens don’t bother about well organised. They think that if others think it’s OK to ignore advice, then why should they.

Are you really suggesting that all open water swimming should be banned because some young people act foolishly and jump into reservoirs without preparation?

No.

I don’t assume you’re suggesting that it’s OK for people to choose which rules to obey or not either.

I don't think it is comparable to the mass trespass at all.

there may be a small number of reservoirs where it is safe to swim: so designate them as such, clearly signed, but the rule remains do not swim unless clearly permitted.

If swimming has been banned in the Kinder reservoir, then those people who persist in ignoring the ban are setting an extremely bad example, no matter how much care they take to protect themselves.
It is the flouting of the ban that is the danger, not the activity.

Scotland has had open access since 2003. They have a higher rate of drownings considering the population size. However further investigation reveals that almost half (4 in 10) are the result of accidents causing someone to fall into water, not swimmers.

It seems that however many reservoirs you see around upland reservoirs, and we have a good number hereabouts, including Kinder, there will always be an equal number of people determined to ignore them. Even in the summer a large body of water will be very cold. I have worn fishing waders to go a few yards up to my knees into Ladybower and other upland reservoirs and you can feel the cold through them. There are currents too, which many people don’t take into account “because it’s not the sea”! Another hazard is silt. A bank that can look solid can give way to silt that can grab your feet and be very hard to get out of. These bodies of water are very large and often isolated (Kinder is very isolated) and there are no safety measures such as life belts or emergency telephones around the banks.

“Notices” you see”!!

nanna8

Should people swim in a water storage reservoir anyway? I wouldn’t want to drink their germs.

The cleaning up of the water comes after the reservoir, nanna8. What do you think the fish, otters, ducks etc are doing in the water of a reservoir? I bet they don't nip out and have a quick pee on the bank!

The whole point of wild swimming means that you regularly swim in really cold water, so the temperature of the water in reservoirs, will be familiar to such swimmers.

Regular wild swimmers know better than to swim alone in isolated places, that is left to the kind of idiots who drown.

Properly conducted wild swims are done in groups with strict rules about preparation on site and what your do afterwards and someone on the bank watchng those swimming.

I know nothing about this particular incident, and, to be honest, I am not much interested, I am just concerned about the ignorance about how regular wild swimmers always make sure that they swim safely. the OP refers to all the young people drowning by indiscriminatingly leaping into reservoirs - usually to keep cool in summer. When did you last hear of a wild swimmer drowning?

We have wild swimming on the sea front and other places near us.
I don’t do it, but I do sometimes go and watch, or in the case of a member of staff I mentioned earlier, take her and have coffee with her later. It’s true there is always equipment to deal with anyone getting into difficulties when she goes.
My question was to do with ignoring rules and setting examples. She wouldn’t ignore the rules and attend this particular event because it sets a bad example and (if she knew about GN, which I doubt) she’d know the scathing remarks she’d get for being a teacher and breaking the rules if she was spotted.

We have wild swimmers near us swimming in the rivers when the fish are spawning, they’ve been asked not to, but carry on.

It's not just young people going into deep, cold water unprepared. Adults who don't understand the problems do it too, and die too.

As M0nica argues, awful though it is, is not a reason to ban everyone, including the people who prepare well and swim in cold water regularly.

A better response would be to educate people about the dangers. And, yes, I realise that's not as easy is banning. I don't swim in open water – I'd solidfy in seconds – but I don't support all out banning.

Regular wild swimmers know better than to swim alone in isolated places, that is left to the kind of idiots who drown
Harsh Monica the idiots as you put it, see the wild swimmers in there and presume it’s ok for them too.

Anyway it’s not about if it’s ok for good swimmers or not it’s about following rules and not breaking rules that have clearly been put in position for a valid reason You can’t have rules for one and not for others that’s nonsense

If it says danger do not swim here then you darn well don’t swim there

Good posts by Glorianny too.

I can't help thinking also of Scandinavian practices of plunging into absolutely icy waters. Apparently (I'm told!) it has healthful benefits. Ditto cold water swimming.

It is brilliant Baggs I do it in the sea but the group I go with do not go in if the notices go up for safety or pollution as sometimes happens
Surely this is about following safety rules and setting an example not whether it’s exhilarating or beneficial