Scottish Water and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service on Safety Patrol at Gladhouse

Scottish Water and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service this week warned people about the dangers at reservoirs and other bodies of water when they patrolled a popular reservoir in Midlothian.

David Gray, from Scottish Water's Land Strategy Team, and David Main, Watch Commander for SFRS Midlothian, carried out a joint patrol at Gladhouse Reservoir - one of the utility company's busiest - to help advise visitors how to stay safe around reservoirs in the winter and at any time of year.

The two organisations are advising people to be vigilant and not to take risks around freezing cold reservoirs, lochs and rivers and any parts of watercourses that are covered in ice.

While people should enjoy winter walks or runs around the country’s beautiful reservoirs, lochs and rivers – it’s absolutely vital that they stay safe and act responsibly at all times when near open water.

Their advice is:

• People should not go too close to the edge because they could slip and fall in
• Adults should keep children safe
• People should not walk on ice-covered water
• And dogs should be kept on a lead if they are being walked near reservoirs and other bodies of open water

They are also advising people about the hidden dangers in reservoirs and urging them to be particularly careful if they visit one.

Reservoirs are man-made features which have unique dangers such as dams, spillways (overflows) and hidden water intakes (underwater pipe work that takes water out of the reservoir) and other hazards common to natural bodies of water, such as reeds, strong currents, steep banks and deep cold water.

As the majority of Scottish Water's reservoirs are situated in remote locations, there is also a lack of immediate assistance. For these reasons, and in the interests of public safety, Scottish Water does not encourage swimming or diving in any of its reservoirs.

David Gray from the Scottish Water Land Strategy Team said “Working in partnership with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service allows us to deliver clear, consistent safety messages to people who visit our reservoirs.

"Through joint patrols like this, as well as events and school visits throughout the year, we’re able to highlight the real risks that exist around open water.

With Gladhouse being one of our busiest sites, it’s vital that we continue this collaborative approach. These patrols will continue into the peak summer season, when additional safety messaging around issues such as uncontrolled fires and other irresponsible behaviour becomes increasingly important.”

Their patrol at Gladhouse Reservoir was part of the Midlothian Partnership Approach to Water Safety (PAWS) group, which brings agencies together throughout the year for joint patrols, events, school visits and social media campaigns.