Water will begin flowing into Treasure Valley canals in early April.
MERIDIAN, Idaho — Water will soon begin flowing into irrigation canals around the Treasure Valley. The time to talk with your children about water safety is now, the Meridian Fire Department said Tuesday.
The Meridian Irrigation District plans to open its canal systems during the first week of April.
As water begins to fill those canals and warmer weather comes in, the Meridian Fire Department is sharing the following safety tips:
Don't swim or allow your pets in canals.
Keep a safe distance from the edges of the canals. The sides of canals are extremely slick, making it difficult for people or pets to get out of the water.
Swimming, tubing or any other water play are not allowed in canals.
Never jump into a canal to rescue pets or objects such as toys. If you need help, call 911.
Do not leave your children unattended around canals.
"Many Meridian City Parks have splash pads and safe water features to take advantage of. Parents can help keep our youngest citizens safe around water by keeping them supervised and teaching them the dangers of open bodies of water such as irrigation canals," said Meridian Fire Chief Kris Blume.
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FAQs
Canals can have deep water. If you cannot swim or if you are hurt, falling into deep water could prove fatal. In addition to swift currents, irrigation canals may have undertows and turbulence that could drag even a strong swimmer under water. Canals have steep slopes and slippery walls.
Is it illegal to swim in canals in Idaho? ›
In Idaho we have an abundance of lakes, streams, and rivers to recreate in, but swimming, playing, or wading in our canals are not only dangerous but illegal.
Can you swim in canals? ›
Some risks are obvious, but there are also potential hidden dangers. These include submerged debris, reeds and unexpected cold-water shock. Some of our water spaces, in particular canals, are just not safe or appropriate for open water swimming, and it remains a breach of the Trust's byelaws to swim in these spaces.
Can you swim in irrigation water? ›
During hot weather, the water may look still and inviting but, there are strong currents underneath the surface which can trap even a strong swimmer very quickly. Please stay away from canals, they're not safe places for anyone to play around or swim in – big or small, young or old.
What are the dangers of canals? ›
The risks of getting in the water include: Low temperatures, which can cause the body to go into cold shock and even hypothermia, drawing the blood away from your muscles to protect your organs. This can lead to drowning. Reeds and other plant life, which can get tangled around limbs and keep you in the water.
Which is the riskiest place to swim Why? ›
Hanakapiai Beach, Hawaii - Powerful Rip Currents
Nestled in the Napali Coast of Kauai and only accessible by the Kalalau Trail, Hanakapiai Beach is one of the most dangerous places in the world to go swimming due to powerful rip currents and waves that are known to sweep people out to sea.
Where was it ever illegal to swim? ›
Already in the 1530s, the German university town of Ingolstadt on the Danube had banned swimming, and in 1571, so did the University of Cambridge. By 1599, the Pope had banned swimming in Rome's Tiber river.
Do canals have running water? ›
They carry free, calm surface flow under atmospheric pressure, and can be thought of as artificial rivers. In most cases, a canal has a series of dams and locks that create reservoirs of low speed current flow. These reservoirs are referred to as slack water levels, often just called levels.
Does the canal have locks? ›
The Panama Canal locks (Spanish: Esclusas del Canal de Panamá) are a lock system that lifts ships up 85 feet (26 metres) to the main elevation of the Panama Canal and down again.
Do canals have undercurrents? ›
Canals can have deep waters, strong undercurrents, and turbulence that could be a challenge and prove fatal even for the strongest swimmer.
The most important difference between canals and rivers is that (with one or two exceptions such as the Llangollen) canals are pretty much still water, whereas rivers can have appreciable currents – especially after heavy rain.
Why is it not safe to swim in rivers? ›
The current is stronger, the water is murkier, and there is more and larger debris. The river can carry whole trees. Hazardous bacteria can temporarily exceed safe levels. After rain events, it enters waterways from overland runoff and overflows of combined sanitary and storm sewers.
Is Canal water clean water? ›
All but a few suffer the twin impacts of pollution and, on popular canals, the regular to-ing and fro-ing of boats, which churn up sediments and leave the water brown, muddy and turbid. A small number – like the Montgomery Canal – still have clean and uncontaminated water and are outstanding freshwater habitats.
Are Florida canals safe to swim in? ›
It is not recommended that anyone swim in the canals. There is a variety of wildlife in the canals that could be dangerous as well as health concerns associated with warm, stagnant water. The use of gas-powered watercraft is prohibited in the freshwater canals, but it is permitted in saltwater canals.
