Scouting The Net
Water Safety
Drowning Machines - low level dams and weirs
Keep in mind the dangers of low level dams and weirs that are commonly built on rivers across the country. These often create hydraulics that trap unwary swimmers, canoeist and rafters and are often referred to as "drowning machines".
- An excellent diagram of a drowning machine:
- Details of the dangers:
- An attempt to rescue:
- An engineering study:
The US Army Corps of Engineers has the following warning: THE DROWNING MACHINE -- The navigation dams appear to be tranquil sites on the Illinois River. However, anyone who gets too close to the dam will be drawn into the "Drowning Machine." As the main current goes through the dam down to the bottom of the river it re-circulates back upstream to create a backwash, known as the "Hydraulic Effect." Anyone who gets into this area has little chance of survival. The propeller of a boat is ineffective in this area, because it can't "bite" into the foamy water. To avoid getting caught in the hydraulic, boats must stay at least 400 feet away from the downstream side of the dam, and 600 feet away from the upstream side of the dam.