Dominic Perrottet said the holidays continue to be a high-risk time for swimmers, surfers and boaters across the state.
"Whilst it's been great to see people across NSW flocking to the beach, the river or the pool ... I urge everyone to continue to remain vigilant and stay safe in the water," the premier said from Sydney's Coogee beach on Wednesday.
Given 4000 rescues are performed annually, the recent spike of more than eight per hour was worrying.
"There are simple steps families can take to stay safe," Mr Perrottet said.
"Please supervise children, swim between the flags, wear a life jacket when required and always listen to the warnings from emergency service personnel."
Emergency Services Minister Steph Cooke said Surf Life Saving NSW's 75,000-strong volunteers base was out in force at nearly 130 locations along the state's coastline.
The water safety warning comes a day after two teenagers died while being towed by a boat in northern NSW.
The girls, aged 13 and 14, were on the Namoi River, northwest of Tamworth, when they hit a tree stump about 5pm on Tuesday.
They couldn't be revived.
Surf Life Saving NSW Steve Pearce, who grew up in Tamworth, lamented the loss of life and said it would have a "ripple effect" on the regional communities.He warned inland waterways were particularly dangerous because no lifesavers are out there on hand compared to coastal settings.Fifty-five people died across NSW waterways in 2021, the deadliest year on record."We don't want to see this repeated again," Mr Pearce said.
"One drowning is one too many."
The incident is one of several deadly incidents, including children, on Australian waterways since Christmas with five people in Victoria and South Australia drowning.
The Royal Life Saving's national summer drowning toll has recorded 16 deaths so far.
Meanwhile, police in Wagga Wagga are searching for a swimmer who reportedly did not resurface while in the Murrumbidgee River on Tuesday.
The report was made to police about 8.30pm, leading to a search involving volunteers, SES, NSW Ambulance and police.
The search resumed on Wednesday, despite no person being reported missing to police.
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