Underground tank to improve lake's water quality

2 hours ago

News image — A BBC investigation found that United Utilities dumped millions of litres of raw sewage into Windermere between 2021 and 2023

Getty Images An aerial view of Windermere, England's largest lake which stretches into the distance narrowing as it goes. Boats can be seen dotted along its foreshore — A BBC investigation found that United Utilities dumped millions of litres of raw sewage into Windermere between 2021 and 2023

A water company is proposing building an underground tank to improve the water quality of England's biggest freshwater lake.

A BBC investigation found United Utilities dumped millions of litres of raw sewage illegally into Windermere in Cumbria over a three-year period between 2021 and 2023.

The company said the facility would cut the number of times a storm overflow - a valve which allows diluted sewage to be discharged during heavy rain - is used.

Matt Staniek, a campaigner against sewage pollution and founder of Save Windermere, said: "Any investment is good because it's needed but United Utilities needs to stop putting any sewage, treated or untreated, into Windermere."

If it gets planning permission, construction of the tank, which would hold the equivalent of four Olympic-sized swimming pools, would begin on land off Glebe Road, Bowness-on-Windermere in 2027, and should be completed by early 2030.

Staniek believes it is a result of ongoing pressure Save Windermere has placed on the water company over what he said was the "the sheer exploitation of England's largest lake".

He also said he was "sceptical" about the plan's effectiveness.

"They are saying they're going to reduce the number of spills but they are still not saying how much untreated sewage by volume they will continue to discharge," he said.

Save Windermere An aerial view of Windermere which is deep green because of algae. A number of jetties stretch into the water with boats moored alongside — People were told to stay out of the water and to keep pets away during algal blooms, like this one on Windermere in 2022

He believes the example of Lake Annecy in France which had "exactly the same issues in the 1960s" shows what can be achieved.

"What they did was build a ring sewer around its entire circumference which collected all sewage and it's now classified as the cleanest urban lake in Europe.

"We should be learning from these international examples," he said.

Save Windermere Matt Staniek is a young man with brown hair and a close cropped brown beard. He is wearing a black top with a blurred green background — Matt Staniek, founder of Save Windermere says United Utilities should stop discharging any sewage into the lake

United Utilities says it is investing £200 million across the Windermere catchment over the next four years, part of "the largest investment in water and wastewater infrastructure across the North West for a century".

The company says overall it is "investing more than £13 billion to protect and enhance over 500 kilometres of rivers, lakes and bathing waters, while safeguarding drinking water supplies for millions of customers".

Two drop-in events about the new tank are being held on 16 June at the Belsfield Hotel in Bowness-on-Windermere and on 17 June at the Marchesi Centre in Windermere, between 1600-1900 BST.