Respect the water

Runnymede as a borough has a complex range of water courses, with a variety of landowners who each have their own responsibilities for river safety.

In the absence of a single body responsible for water safety in Runnymede, and in recognition of the important role that rivers and other water courses have in the borough's culture and amenity a tri-borough initiative was put together in 2018, together with Elmbridge and Spelthorne Borough Councils.

 Respect the Water: Runnymede Water Safety Plan

This sets out to reduce the number of water-related danger incidents in the borough through training and improved awareness, such as the dangers of swimming in open water and cold-water shock.

For useful advice please visit

• RNLI Respect the Water 
• Staying safe in Surrey's rivers and lakes

Throw lines

We have ten throw lines installed in the borough at this time. Location details are available view on our public map Select ‘open map layers’, then click on ‘Community & Living’, and finally select ‘Water Safety Equipment’.

Water safety events and other work

Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, working with us and other partners, hold an annual water safety event (typically in April) at Virginia Water Lake. Within this event, live respect demonstrations are put on show casing water rescue techniques, highlighting the dangers, and providing ‘have a go’ sessions for the public with the throw lines.

The Runnymede Community Safety Partnership continues to promote social media posts around water safety and we engage Year 6 pupils across the borough in a water safety session as part of the Junior Citizen event held annually at Thorpe Park.