Society

Legal and safe out-door pools needed by Beijingers

By Wu Wencong (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-08-02 19:26

Beijingers should be able to cool their heels in legal outdoor natural swimming pools as soon as next summer, officers with Beijing Water Authority told METRO on Monday.

Swimming areas have been a hot topic in the light of the 10 drowning deaths in July, four of which happened during the past week.

Government officials say they want to make it harder for people to swim in out-of-bounds unsafe places in the capital and they know that one way to deter such dangerous behavior is to provide legal and safe alternatives.

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On Thursday evening, about 100 officers from the Beijing Water Administration and Law-enforcement Office, Beijing Urban Rivers and Lakes Administration Office, and Enforcement Brigade of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of City Administration and Law Enforcement were divided into three groups to check for illegal swimming in three forbidden areas.

Since July 1, more than 15,000 illegal swimmers have been persuaded to leave dangerous swimming areas.

Eight officers patrolled back and forth along rivers by boat, carrying loudspeakers and looking for illegal bathers and swimmers.

Most people got out of the water when warned but few left the riverbank entirely.

Wang Zhengliang, vice director of the Beijing Water Administration and Law-enforcement Office, said the impact of such patrols are limited.

"We are not authorized to do anything other than yell warnings at the illegal swimmers," said Wang. "Sometimes, they just ignore us."

A migrant worker surnamed Liu, who got out of Changhe River after being persuaded to do so, said he lived nearby in a room without an air conditioner along with 15 other workers.

"It's been my habit to cool off in this river for three years," he said. "There is no way I'll drown, because I am a good swimmer and also very careful."

He said he had encountered officers many times in the past three years but would jump into the river again every time after they leave.

Wang was fully aware of this situation and said the best way to solve the problem is not by posing heavy fines on the illegal bathers and swimmers.

"They are all poor people who live at the foot of the social ladder. It is better we let them realize the danger themselves and find them new places to cool off in summer," he told METRO.

Wang said Beijing Water Authority is now actively working with environmental, park administration and other relevant departments to find appropriate rivers and lakes that can be used as natural outdoor swimming pools in Beijing.

"There remain lots of difficulties involved, such as the administration and investment in the pools," he said.

"Before that, the most effective way to stop illegal bathing and swimming might be to go on letting people know that accidents can happen to anyone, whether they are a good swimmer or not, so that they will not take the chance."