We will not stop until we have a sewage free Windermere.

Our full blog here ⬇️

www.savewindermere.com/blog/non-mai...

Big thanks to @adamvaughan.bsky.social for covering

www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...

Save Windermere remains the only voice calling for a long-term infrastructure investment plan to eliminate sewage pollution from England's largest lake once and for all. This solution has been achieved in lakes across the world — it's not a question of what’s possible, but of cost and political will

In 2024 alone, the sites surrounding Windermere discharged 6,327 hours of untreated sewage into the lake.

Don't be fooled by United Utilities' next round of investment — it isn't enough. Their plans will not protect Windermere into the future. Now, more than ever, we must demand more.

This outcome was hard-won, requiring years of campaigning, media coverage, ICO complaints, and the imposition of a special enforcement measure on UU – the first ever for a UK water company.

While encouraged by UU’s new approach, we will remain vigilant. We will stand to fight for transparency again

Since the decision, UU has not only released the appeal data but has also provided additional requested information. We commend their new commitment to transparency regarding England’s largest lake.

Save Windermere worked tirelessly as a second respondent in the case, with pro-bono support from barristers Nicholas Ostrowski and Samuel Glanville.

It is also week 63 of the Strike Against Sewage. We spent a lot of time talking about this report and the failures of the EA when it comes to protecting Windermere.

The full report can be read at

www.savewindermere.com/news/far-saw...

Thanks to pressure from the campaign, some improvements in maintenance have been made at the site in recent years, such as increased tankering.

However, these interventions remain incomplete and inconsistent.

Unlike other regions, Windermere isn’t surrounded by intensive dairy, poultry, or arable farming, which are major contributors to freshwater pollution elsewhere. While poor practices will exist, they aren’t the primary issue impacting Windermere’s water quality.

The image above highlights algal growth caused by excessive nutrients being discharged into the river. In addition to blue-green algae, this benthic algal growth is another clear indicator of nutrient overload.