What Are the Risks of Open Water?

June 18, 2020

This week Envireau Water are joining the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) to raise awareness of the risks that open water can pose. Take 5 minutes to read their latest safety information. 


We have all seen the warnings and recent posts on social media about swimming in open water. Whilst the weather at present may not be quite as hot as it was a couple of weeks ago, Envireau Water is joining the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) this week to raise awareness of the risks that open water can pose. As the weather turns hotter with long sunny summer days (and fingers crossed we get a few more), there is a strong temptation to cool off with a dip, whether that is the sea, a river or a lake. So why should we think twice before taking our shoes off and jumping in? We asked Rebecca, one of our hydrologists, who is also a qualified lifeguard and swimming teacher, to give us her thoughts and experience on the topic. 


“Growing up in the Midlands, I have been lucky enough to enjoy our countryside and waterways, but I appreciate the risks posed by open water such as reservoirs, disused quarries, and rivers of all sizes. In previous years during #DrowningPreventionWeek, I would think of lots of interesting ways to educate children and adults about the risks involved with swimming in open water.” 


So, what are the risks involved: 


  • Coldwater shock – sudden changes in temperature can cause your body to shut down. If this happened, how will you get out? 
  • Unseen objects – you never know what is lurking underwater. 
  • Changes in water depth – you could soon find yourself unable to stand. 
  • Fast flowing water, changing tides and rip tides in the sea – do not underestimate the power of water. 
  • Solo swimming – if you are struggling who will be there to help? 
  • Water quality – we have all swallowed water before when swimming, but do you know what is in it? 


These are all important stop and think moments. After all, it’s easy to get in the water but will it be as easy to get back out? 


“As a qualified lifeguard for 10 years, the risks above seem obvious to me, but that lure of a cooling swim can sometimes be too much for some. A great benefit of working for Envireau Water is how seriously they take this risk, which often comes alongside fieldwork. This can be when installing certain types of monitoring equipment where there is a need to enter the water, or when completing a site walkover survey near to a river or other large water body. The training provided is excellent in preparing us to think about the risks and how best to remove or minimise them.” 


We take water safety seriously at Envireau Water, all of our fieldwork staff are trained in Open Water Safety, as well as First Aid. The team are also trained and well-practised in completing risk assessments and evaluating the dangers of water in unfamiliar environments. That’s why we are encouraging you to head over to the RLSS website so you’re up to date with all the latest safety information, after all a 10-minute read could make all the difference…

https://www.rlss.org.uk/Pages/Category/water-safety-information. 


Our staff are a talented bunch, with skills that go beyond the day job! Why not learn more about Rebecca and the rest of the Envireau Water team over on our about page!

Share

By Rachael Plant June 5, 2025
Across the globe, plastic pollution is becoming an increasingly crucial topic, with an estimated 400 million tonnes being produced every year world wide. While the focus is often on visible plastic (including bottles, bags, and packaging), a growing body of research is turning its attention to the invisible threat of microplastics and emerging contaminants, which are increasingly finding their way into water sources, food chains and even the air we breathe.  What are microplastics? Microplastics are a growing threat to the health of our planet. Despite being barely visible, these tiny plastic particles account for roughly 8% of global plastic waste, a number that is set to increase in the coming years.
By Rachael Plant May 28, 2025
We officially unveiled our newest office location in April last year! Known as a hub of Hydrogeology, our Shrewsbury office sits in the heart of the town and is a testament to our growth and a strategic move to better serve our clients in the West Midlands and Wales. We're excited to introduce you to our skilled experts! Tamsin Morey: Having joined in 2003, Principal Water Resources Specialist Tamsin has over 20 years consulting experience, with her role focusing primarily on water resource management and high level regulator negotiation. Tamsin manages projects primarily within the agricultural and food & drink industries, with expertise ranging from catchment-scale water resource assessments to the delivery of detailed site-specific solutions to solve specific client issues.
By Rachael Plant May 21, 2025
Welcome to our Melbourne office in Derbyshire! Connecting you to both Derby and Leicester, this charming market town is surrounded by beautiful countryside and a multitude of boutique shops and delicious bakeries! We're excited to introduce you to our talented professionals! Lauren Moore: A Chartered Manager (Fellow) with an MSc in Management and Leadership, Lauren joined Envireau Water in 2018 and now leads business operations across the company’s four offices, playing a central role in shaping and delivering the company's strategic direction. Lauren’s expertise spans project and change management, business innovation, digital transformation and marketing, with a strong focus on improving operational efficiency and supporting sustainable growth.
Show More
By Rachael Plant June 5, 2025
Across the globe, plastic pollution is becoming an increasingly crucial topic, with an estimated 400 million tonnes being produced every year world wide. While the focus is often on visible plastic (including bottles, bags, and packaging), a growing body of research is turning its attention to the invisible threat of microplastics and emerging contaminants, which are increasingly finding their way into water sources, food chains and even the air we breathe.  What are microplastics? Microplastics are a growing threat to the health of our planet. Despite being barely visible, these tiny plastic particles account for roughly 8% of global plastic waste, a number that is set to increase in the coming years.
By Rachael Plant May 28, 2025
We officially unveiled our newest office location in April last year! Known as a hub of Hydrogeology, our Shrewsbury office sits in the heart of the town and is a testament to our growth and a strategic move to better serve our clients in the West Midlands and Wales. We're excited to introduce you to our skilled experts! Tamsin Morey: Having joined in 2003, Principal Water Resources Specialist Tamsin has over 20 years consulting experience, with her role focusing primarily on water resource management and high level regulator negotiation. Tamsin manages projects primarily within the agricultural and food & drink industries, with expertise ranging from catchment-scale water resource assessments to the delivery of detailed site-specific solutions to solve specific client issues.
By Rachael Plant May 21, 2025
Welcome to our Melbourne office in Derbyshire! Connecting you to both Derby and Leicester, this charming market town is surrounded by beautiful countryside and a multitude of boutique shops and delicious bakeries! We're excited to introduce you to our talented professionals! Lauren Moore: A Chartered Manager (Fellow) with an MSc in Management and Leadership, Lauren joined Envireau Water in 2018 and now leads business operations across the company’s four offices, playing a central role in shaping and delivering the company's strategic direction. Lauren’s expertise spans project and change management, business innovation, digital transformation and marketing, with a strong focus on improving operational efficiency and supporting sustainable growth.
By Rachael Plant May 20, 2025
As much as we all love the sunshine and have been embracing the recent warmer weather spell across the UK, the prolonged dry conditions are now raising concerns that England may be at risk of a potential drought this summer. Following an exceptionally sunny and dry April, which experienced just over 56% of usual rainfall, the start of May was also the warmest on record, surpassing the previous high set in 1990. With water resources already strained, it is more important than ever that proactive measures are promptly adopted to mitigate this risk, promote water conservation and avoid the potential for future restrictions. We asked Principal Water Resources Specialist, Tamsin Morey , for her thoughts on the matter... Tamsin, what dangers are we already seeing in the UK?
Show More