Action plan in place to improve Windermere water quality
Eager to preserve the health of the lake, a group of nine partners has banded together to craft a list of 33 ways to tackle pollution and blue-green algae blooms.
The Love Windermere Partnership comprises Cumbria Tourism, the Environment Agency, Lake District Foundation, The National Trust, National Farmers Union, South Cumbria Rivers Trust, and United Utilities, alongside Westmorland and Furness Council and the Lake District National Park Authority.
The group worked with scientists at Lancaster University and the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology to draft a two-year Love Windermere Partnership Action Plan.
This looks at the entire 60,170-acre Windermere catchment to find possible solutions to reduce the amount of phosphorus in the water. Wastewater, sewage overflows, and surface water run-offs from rural land are three sources of nutrient pollution harming the lake.
Action items include identifying sewage pollution from misconnects, exploring how planning processes can support or hinder improvements, and discovering private sewage treatment systems that could be connected to the mains sewer.
“This is about action, not just ambition,” said Nigel Wilkinson, chair of the Love Windermere Partnership.
“We know that Windermere matters to people. This plan focuses on doing the things that will make a difference, based on the best available evidence, and in partnership with the community,” he continued.
“Restoring Windermere will take time, trust, and teamwork — but this plan marks a crucial step forward.”
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Pub and hotel group, Thwaites, is one of 14 local businesses that support the work of the Love Windermere Partnership. Rick Bailey, executive chair of Thwaites, praised the action plan.
“Businesses around the lake are proud to support this action plan because it’s built on evidence, collaboration, and a shared commitment to protect what makes this place special,” he said.
“There has been too much attention-grabbing hysteria about the subject of water quality in the lake, and now it is time to move on, be grounded in the facts and get behind actionable plans to address the evolving challenges that Lake Windermere is faced with. We are therefore proud to play our part in securing Windermere’s brighter future.”
The action plan is just one way that Lake Windermere is receiving help. United Utilities has committed to investing £200m around the catchment to upgrade ten wastewater treatment sites and six pumping stations. Earlier this year, Lake District National Park Authority moved to implement a local development order to make it easier to replace septic tanks with modern package treatment plants.
Great that something may be finally happening but the fact it’s been allowed to get to this state in the first place is appalling, and what damage has already been done to the lake, its wildlife and public confidence in OUR waterways, largely by UU underinvestment in treating sewage and via agricultural pollution. Meanwhile countless other rivers in UU’s catchments are still in a dire state. Generally, large scale upland habitat restoration is needed (and in places is happening), alongside a change in agricultural practises.
By About time