(Featured image by Jonathan Cohn)
GLOUCESTER — With warm weather predicted for the holiday weekend, Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken, Police Chief Leonard Campanello and Fire Chief Eric Smith remind residents that swimming in quarries and reservoirs is forbidden.
Gloucester is home to numerous reservoirs and quarries, which serve as the main water source for the city.
State law and city ordinance ban swimming in a water supply. Those caught doing so will be warned and removed from the area. They also face having their vehicle ticketed and towed.
“Now that the weather is nice, we will be stepping up enforcement in these areas to ensure that residents and tourists are not swimming in the reservoirs,” Chief Campanello said. “It’s a major health concern to have people swimming in the city’s drinking water.”
“Not only is swimming in reservoirs illegal, but jumping into these bodies of water is extremely dangerous,” Chief Smith said. “We do not want anyone to get hurt from reckless behavior.”
“Please be respectful of state law and our city ordinance by not swimming in these bodies of water,” Mayor Romeo Theken said. “There are many beautiful nature paths surrounding the reservoirs and quarries that are great for walking and hiking, but we ask that you limit it to that.”
