Flooding may mean taking extra care when enjoying water recreation

The aftermath of flooding may cause pollution and other hidden hazards for people enjoying water-related recreation.

o Pollution by chemicals or sewage during floods and as a result of flood damage could increase health risks for some time after the flooding has stopped.

o Hidden dangers and obstructions in and around water affected by flooding may increase risks to recreational users.

Advice on using recreational waters
o The Health Protection Agency has issued general advice following flooding (www.hpa.org.uk/flooding/health_advice.pdf) and specific advice on chemical and environmental hazards (www.hpa.org.uk/flooding/chemicals.pdf).

o As a result of severe flooding, crude sewage may have been discharged into rivers from emergency overflows at pumping stations and treatment works which were damaged by flood water.

o This possible short term negative impact on the environment and to public health is preferable to the alternative - crude sewage overflowing into or next to homes and businesses.

o Flooding may also have washed other pollutants into rivers and out to sea.

Other factors to consider include:-
o Flow speeds may be higher than usual.
o Water may be deeper than usual.
o It may be hard to identify where the river channel is.
o Flood water may be covering things that create risks for users, such as missing manhole covers, barbed wire fences, fallen trees.
o Silt, mud and debris left by flooding may make surfaces slippery and create trip hazards.
o Ponds and lakes that have been flooded may also contain pollutants.

If you are unsure about any of this advice, please check with our National Customer Contact Centre on 0870 850 6506.

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