Swim concern In reservoirs

Swim concern In reservoirs

9 July 2025

ONLINE videos encouraging young people to swim and dive at some of the district’s main reservoirs could cost lives.

The chilling warning has been issued by Northern Ireland Water which is appealing to people to steer clear of the Silent Valley, Ben Crom and Spelga Dam reservoirs in the Mournes.

With the school holidays in full swing, NI Water officials fear the online posts will prompt young people to take to the water which, they say, is full of inherent dangers and hidden hazards.

Dangers include bitterly cold temperatures — even in the summer months — and strong underwater currents which can trouble even the most confident of swimmers.

NI Water says reservoirs are much deeper than people expect and there may be hidden debris or underwater hazards which could cause injury.

After watching some of the online content, officials have moved quickly to appeal to people to stay clear of reservoirs for their own safety.

NI Water is aware that people are swimming, diving and engaging in water activities that are strictly prohibited at reservoirs, including three high profile facilities in the Mournes.

The organisation’s appeal to stay away comes in the wake of reports of visitors engaging in what has been described as “inappropriate and unsafe activities” in the area, including swimming and diving into the 

weirs at Dunny Water in Annalong, swimming above the Silent Valley and also paddle boarding above the reservoir.

NI Water said some of the individuals engaging in such activity are inappropriately posting their activities across social media and wrongly encouraging other people to do likewise.

The organisation’s Gary Presho said it was not a case that NI Water prohibited these activities to stop people having fun.

“The ban is there to save lives, it is as simple and stark as that,” he said.

“There are significant risks with the activities being observed and reported. Having watched the footage myself, the fear is that others will follow and it may only be a matter of time until someone is seriously injured or worse, there could be a fatality.”

Mr Presho said NI Water was urging the public not to take part in any water activities due to the inherent dangers.  

“Those posting their activities online are encouraging others to take part in something that could ultimately cost them their lives,” he said.

“Reservoirs might look like the perfect place to cool down on a warm day, but even an innocent paddle can quickly turn into an emergency. 

“Reservoirs pose significant safety risks like cold water temperatures, strong currents, hidden hazards and difficulty exiting the water.”

NI Water has explicitly stated that its reservoirs and lands around them are working sites and are therefore dangerous and not suitable for any water activities. 

And the company is again reminding visitors that these bodies of water can be deceptively dangerous, with hidden hazards and cold water shock posing serious risks.

Mr Presho says the Water Incident Database (WAID), which was developed by the National Water Safety Forum,  identified inland open waters such as reservoirs as leading locations for accidental drownings, with recreational activities accounting for 48% of deaths, especially during July.

He added: “This further emphasises the need to remain vigilant and treat our waterways with respect. 

“Please always remember to play safe and stay safe around our reservoirs and behave responsibly by adhering to our safety signage on site.”