Frozen Lough Fea Reservoir Is Not A Playground

05 January 2010 12:33

Northern Ireland Water (NI Water) is appealing to those members of the public who are playing on the Lough Fea Impounding Reservoir, which is currently frozen over, to stop.

NI Water staff along with the PSNI have been on site trying to deter people from going onto the ice and have erected signage in the area in a bid to warn the public about the dangers of doing so. NI Water cannot completely restrict access to the site and therefore is relying on the public to realise that they are putting themselves at serious risk.

Charlie Gallagher, Head of Water Supply at NI Water highlighted the dangers:

“People assume the ice over the Lough is thick enough to play on. However, the ice could be thin in places and as we draw off water for production, the water level in the Lough will drop away from the ice layer. This combination heightens the risk of someone falling through the ice into the freezing water. If this happened, there would be a risk of someone drowning.

“The public have a responsibility for their own safety. NI Water needs the help and support of the whole community to assist us in maintaining public safety and would appeal to parents to ensure they warn their children about the dangers of playing on frozen lakes.”

Along with those skating over the ice, a car has even been spotted driving over it. Careless acts such as this can result in life threatening consequences and could place the water supplies in the Cookstown area at risk.

ENDS

All media enquiries to NI Water Press Office on 028 9035 4710 or press.office@niwater.com.