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In fine weather, lots of people prefer to swim outdoors.
They often overlook the fact that bathing is usually not permitted in quarry ponds. Bathing in these waters is banned for two reasons: the dangers to your life and health, and the serious damage it can cause to the environment.
Bathing in quarry ponds is extremely dangerous!
Time after time, accidents occur in quarry ponds in Cologne and the surrounding area, sometimes with fatal consequences.
Therefore, only bathe in the designated bathing ponds!
The dangers of quarry ponds
Insecure or excessively steep embankments
The banks, both above and below the water level, are not always stable. They can slide away, taking people with them, and people can be pulled down by the undertow.
Temperature differences
Quarry ponds are sometimes very deep, and the water is not always well mixed. Temperatures can fall unexpectedly quickly, even just below the surface of the water. This can cause sudden paralysis and cardiac arrest.
Injuries from industrial Equipment
There can be technical equipment both above and below the water’s surface. Abandoned equipment and mechanical parts can also be hidden in quarry ponds in which work is no longer carried out.
No fast help
There is no lifeguard at quarry ponds. It is difficult for ambulances and helpers to reach the accident location, because there is no sufficient access. Often, the available routes are blocked by parked vehicles.
Illnesses
The water quality of quarry ponds is not monitored. There are neither sanitation facilities nor waste disposal. People, animals, and plants produce a large input of nutrients, which can worsen the water quality. This can lead to infections, rashes and gastrointestinal illnesses.
Quarry ponds are important natural environments
Further information