‘It’s a bath of BLEACH’: Police warn swimmers to stay away from Derbyshire quarry lake’s tempting – but toxic – clear blue waters
- Picturesque lagoon’s waters known as Harpur Hill Quarry called ‘bath of bleach’
- Limestone quarry’s blue hue has previously been dyed black to deter swimmers
- Derbyshire Police have warned of its hidden dangers and high alkaline pH levels
Police have warned swimmers to stay away from a picturesque blue lagoon in the Peak District as its toxic waters have been described as ‘a bath of bleach’.
The limestone quarry, known as Harpur Hill Quarry in Buxton, has been described as ‘probably the most dangerous water in the UK’ owing to its high alkaline pH levels.
And as the weather turns warmer Derbyshire Police say they are monitoring the lagoon and urging people to stay away.
The flooded lime pool, once the site of an industrial kiln that towered above Harpur Hill, near Buxton, in the Peak District, was the source of huge problems for locals last year, as thousands of people were attracted to the water’s bright blue hue
A spokeswoman for the force said: ‘Officers have not received reports of anti-social behaviour around the quarry at Harpur Hill over the bank holiday weekend but continue to monitor the area and work with partnership agencies to help maintain this over a long-term period.
‘There are a number of disused quarries across Derbyshire, and throughout the country.
‘Many of them are on private land so as well as the risk of trespassing penalties, people swimming in quarry waters put themselves in danger of cold-water shock, getting injured by hidden items beneath the surface or other health issues relating to pollution.
‘Please don’t put yourself at risk.’
The blue lagoon has previously been filled with black dye several times over the years by council workers to stop selfie seekers flocking to the Derbyshire beauty spot for photos.
High Peak Borough Council has filled a ‘toxic’ blue lagoon in Derbyshire with black dye in a bid to stop Instagram selfie seekers flocking to the beauty spot during lockdown
The flooded lime pool, once the site of an industrial kiln that towered above Harpur Hill, near Buxton, in the Peak District, was the source of huge problems for locals last year as thousands of people were attracted to the water’s bright blue hue.
The site, in Buxton, is also said to be full of animal carcasses, excrement and even a rusting car floating just beneath the surface.
It is full of harmful chemicals that can cause skin irritations, thrush and illness, with the water reportedly having the same PH value as bleach.
It comes as two teenagers have lost their lives after swimming in open water in Yorkshire in the past week.
Sam Haycock, 16, tragically lost his life after he jumped in to help a friend at Ulley Reservoir in Rotherham on Friday, May 28.
A man raises his arms as he swims in the lagoon last year, after police had used dye to turn the water black
Despite a huge search being launched by the emergency services his body was found a short time later.
Then just four days later a 13-year-old boy lost his life after playing in the River Calder at Brighouse on Tuesday, June 1.
The boy’s body was found after hours of urgent searching by specialist police and fire service teams.