The Challenges of Open Water Swimming in a Drought
When volunteers chose a reservoir more than 30 feet deep as the venue for their outdoor swimming sessions, they anticipated only one major challenge: the cold water. However, the Parkswim group in Daventry, Northamptonshire, has faced an unexpected problem—unprecedentedly low water levels that have disrupted their open water swimming events.
The group's usual sessions at the 28-hectare reservoir have been affected by a combination of a hot and dry spring and summer, leading to an all-time low in water levels. This has made it increasingly difficult for swimmers to access the water safely. One of the group’s five directors, Jenna Curtis, explained that the usual entry point from the bank has receded so far that swimmers would end up stuck in a “black bog” while trying to reach the water at Daventry Country Park.
Curtis added that the group had tried moving their access point twice and even used a volunteer with a paddleboard to ferry swimmers to the start of the 500m course. However, they have now had to admit defeat due to safety concerns. “It just means we cannot get our swimmers in and out safely, which is, of course, our top priority,” she said.
Viv Wardle, 62, a health and safety officer and another volunteer director, noted that she has lived in or around the town for 26 years and has never seen the water level so low. “It’s really unusual and a great shame for us all,” she said. “If we are to hold any more events this year before the season finishes in October, then we are going to need significant amounts of rainfall—ten days’ worth, I’m talking about. I can’t see it happening.”
Wardle added that the area around the edge of the reservoir is very boggy and full of reeds, but the water is clear once swimmers are out on the open surface. “It’s such a shame,” she said.
A Growing Community with Financial Challenges
Parkswim was launched around five years ago at Daventry Country Park, and between 30 and 60 swimmers now attend each Sunday morning. Each participant pays £5 for an hour in the water, with the money used to cover equipment costs such as kayaks, insurance, and the training fees for volunteer lifeguards.
Wardle explained that the group worked with the country park to set up the sessions as a way to make open water swimming more affordable. “We’re cheaper than many other venues,” she said.
Daventry reservoir is usually ten metres deep (32ft) when at full capacity, which is more than twice the height of two double-decker buses stacked on top of each other. However, the reservoir has been significantly affected by recent weather conditions.
Weather Conditions and Historical Context
Last month, it was announced that Northamptonshire had entered a prolonged dry weather status—a category below drought after a spell of hot and dry weather. This is the first time that Parkswim has had to cancel a session due to a lack of water.
In response, the nearby Bare Hill Lakes venue at Badby, Northamptonshire, has stepped in to offer an alternative place for swimmers to train until water levels improve in Daventry. The venue will host a Sunday morning session during this period.
Daventry Country Park was formed around the Daventry Reservoir, which opened in 1804 as extra capacity to provide water to the Grand Junction Canal. The canal runs between Braunston in Northamptonshire and Brentford, West London.
According to the Met Office, Northamptonshire experienced its driest summer since records began in 1836 in 1995, with 34.6mm of rainfall recorded over June, July, and August. The driest year on record was 1921, with 386.7mm of rainfall.
This year, from August 1-7, only 3.1 mm of rainfall was recorded in Northamptonshire—five per cent of the August average. Since June 1, 74 mm of rainfall has been recorded (42 per cent of the summer average).
West Northamptonshire Council, which manages Daventry Country Park, and the Canal and River Trust, responsible for the management and maintenance of the reservoir, were contacted for comment.