Emmarentia Dam

[Garfield2010]

Bunch of pansies, after paddling there for 16 odd years I never got sick from the water. The paddlers still do swims in the dam as cross training

HTFU if you want to swim in the dam, otherwise go splash in the pisspond at Linden.

 

The water quality is not a problem and Dabulamanzi does monitor it fairly regulary.

 

 

Bwahahahaha!! Well said!!

 

Until I do swim there and get cholera the week before 70.3!!!

 

How about this. Entry fee to this dam from nou on is one bucket of chlorine. If every swimmer/canoeist throws in one bucket of chlorine every time he swims then maybe we can get blue water!

 

I will bring Blue 52 this afternoon!!

[shawnvan]

Hi guys

 

First post - although have been lurking on the Hub for a while...

 

Question - when swimming at Emmarentia do people generall swim round the edge of the dam, or back and forth along the dam wall?

 

Also, are there any protocols for not getting in the way of canoeists, etc?

[KevG]

Also, are there any protocols for not getting in the way of canoeists, etc?

 

Ja, look up..."Think Canoe"

Think its anticloskwise swimming so you can sight paddlers going clockwise

[Seeker911]

When swimming at Emmerentia whats the story ? Theres the canoe club as well as the Tri club who operate from the same premises. Does one have to pay a fee, be a member ??? or is it a case of pitch swim and do your own thing ?

[rudi-h]

Also doing 70.3 and swam there on sunday. Nothing wrong to me. Water's cleaner than last time I did a tri in Germiston Lake...

 

Just do it

[shawnvan]

Ja, look up..."Think Canoe"

Think its anticloskwise swimming so you can sight paddlers going clockwise

 

Ha ha, indeed. And dive if he doesn't see you!

 

Would also be keen to know if we can swim from the canoe club side without having to be a member etc.

[nolipoli]

We have swum there a few times from the yacht club, which is next door to the canoe club. No fees.

[KevG]

Ha ha, indeed. And dive if he doesn't see you!

 

Would also be keen to know if we can swim from the canoe club side without having to be a member etc.

I paddled with Dabs a few years back as well, they seem super chilled about swimming out their area as long as everyone respects eachother.

Public dam as well, cant really restirct access, go next door otherwise. Just do it!

[Milkworx]

Hi guys, check the latest Emmarentia Water Quality Report

Gives me some peace of mind

 

http://www.dabulamanzi.co.za/Results/Emma%20Dam%20July%202012.pdf

[davem]

For those who don't have time to read the whole report:

 

"The E. coli counts indicated a very low health risk to recreational users including swimmers and canoeists. Counts at both sites decreased in June which may again reflect the low inputs from surface water runoff at that time of the year. The E. coli counts at both sites in June were in the lowest risk category for recreational use (Table 1) indicating a very low risk of gastrointestinal illness for swimmers and even lower for canoeists with limited contact to the water."

 

If you survive the cold, you will probably survive.

[Li Mu Bai]

mind the leeches in the mud, very small.

[HaydenWilson]

^{If any of you have worries about the water quality then you can personally get it tested at the lab at delta park (i think its R.250 per water sample) they culture to check e-coli and give you a very neat rundown of the danger to human health.}

 

^{A mate of mine did water sampling down the spruit, starting at emmarentia dam, for his varsity hons project. apparently the quality was fine for about 4km and then it got really bad.}

 

^{Emmarentia dam was a Case study that was mentioned in my environmental chemistry course for the Mobility of chromium 6 (which is the nasty one) apparently its mobility changes depending on the season and is only present in the deep water, so it was at low concentrations in summer and winter when the thermocline in the water is stable but was present at surface during spring and autumn when the changes in water temp resulted in mixing of surface and lower waters.}

[Seeker911]

I sent the Dabs canoe club an email yesterday asking if it was ok to swim at Emmerentia and what if any rules there were. The answer was as follows "Hi Hans - no restrictions from our side. Please just stay out of the path of any / all craft training on the water. Good luck. Bill".

 

Would still be nice to know what if any etiquette there is to follow i.e. swimming in the opposite direction to canoeists and on which side of the buoys do you swim etc etc

[Garfield2010]

I sent the Dabs canoe club an email yesterday asking if it was ok to swim at Emmerentia and what if any rules there were. The answer was as follows "Hi Hans - no restrictions from our side. Please just stay out of the path of any / all craft training on the water. Good luck. Bill".

 

Would still be nice to know what if any etiquette there is to follow i.e. swimming in the opposite direction to canoeists and on which side of the buoys do you swim etc etc

 

As I understand it, swim in the middle part of the dam as they row "around" it in a circle. Also basic safety measure for your own safety like dont go alone is something I would suggest. If you really want the you can attach a flagpole to your back with a flag warning the rowers that you are swimming!

[Danger Dassie]

As I understand it, swim in the middle part of the dam as they row "around" it in a circle. Also basic safety measure for your own safety like dont go alone is something I would suggest. If you really want the you can attach a flagpole to your back with a flag warning the rowers that you are swimming!

 

Or just wear a brightly coloured swimming cap.

[davem]

There are also some specific times where the canoeists are training/racing that is best to avoid. The club should tell you. If I remember, something about Thurs evening and Sun mornings.