As the sun reflects its golden vanity across glassy waters, Goulburn-Murray Water is sounding the alarm about the dangers lurking in northern Victoria’s irrigation channels.
G-MW, responsible for managing about 6000km of channels vital to the region’s agriculture, insists that swimming in these waterways is a grave mistake.
“None of them are safe to swim in at any time or in any situation,” G-MW general manager of water delivery services Warren Blyth said.
Although the channels may appear inviting, Mr Blyth emphasised that what lies beneath the surface is not.
“There can be numerous hazards, such as debris, pipes, drains, strong undercurrents, and submerged trees and rocks,” he said.
“Channel banks can also be slippery, which can make it difficult to get out of them, particularly for children.”
G-MW channels are designed with flume gates that automatically open and close to manage water flow, allowing conditions to change unexpectedly.
Swimmers in channels may suddenly encounter strong currents and could get stuck in the gates.
Mr Blyth said the only way to ensure channel safety was for people not to swim in them at all.
“If you are looking for somewhere to swim, public swimming pools are a much better option,” he said.
“Some of our storages also have passive recreation areas, which can be good locations for confident swimmers, as they are off limits to any watercraft powered by a motor.
“There are options, but channels are not among them.”
For more information on the dangers of swimming in channels, visit www.g-mwater.com.au/recreation/dont-swim-in-channels