Campaigner Matt Staniek has warned that over 27,700 hours of untreated sewage has been dumped into Lake Windermere since 2020.
United Utilities discharged 8,787 hours of untreated sewage into the UK’s largest lake last year, official figures showed.
Matt said: “The staggering 2023 event duration monitoring data reflects the water industry’s prioritisation of profit over environmental protection even here in the Lake District National Park and UNESCO World Heritage site.”
“This is not about the weather. It is a result of deliberate commercial decisions to not invest in infrastructure to maximise dividend returns. As a result, millions upon millions of litres of untreated sewage have entered a lake that retains much of what is dumped into it.”
Algal blooms are threatening Windermere, Matt said.
These blooms, caused primarily by the nutrients found in sewage, can starve the water of oxygen which can kill wildlife, whilst also posing a risk to humans and pets due to their potential toxicity.
Zoologist Matt campaigns outside United Utilities’ offices every Monday in protest over the state of Windermere, in Cumbria.
He insisted he will be there every Monday until sewage is no longer going into the lake – racking up nearly six months already
Matt said: “United Utilities’ next round of investment in Windermere is totally inadequate to protect our lake.
“The Environment Agency is failing in its duty to hold United Utilities accountable, and this is the result.”
United Utilities has been contacted for a comment.
Mark Garth, wastewater services director at United Utilities, said: “We have seen one of the wettest years on record in the North West and that has contributed to an increased number of storm overflow operations compared to the previous year.
“Since 2015, we have invested £45 million upgrading wastewater systems around Windermere resulting in 50% reduction in the levels of phosphorus entering the lake from our systems.
“We are going further and have already made an early start on a further £41m programme of investment to reduce storm overflow operation at four sites in Windermere by 50% by 2030.
“Whilst the current system is designed to activate during rainfall I understand and share people’s concerns and the need for change and that’s why we are proposing a £3 billion record investment programme to tackle storm overflows in the North West between 2025 and 2030. We are determined to deliver the step change that we all want to see.”
-To find out more about Matt’s campaign, visit savewindermere.com.
