Government to pledge to clean up Windermere

Windermere attracts seven million visitors a year but campaigners say it is treated like an “open sewer”

Reuters An aerial view of Windermere, a huge lake lined with trees — Windermere attracts seven million visitors a year but campaigners say it is treated like an “open sewer”

Environment Secretary Steve Reed is to pledge to ensure “only rainwater” enters England’s largest lake.

On a visit to Windermere in Cumbria he said the government was “committed to cleaning up this iconic lake” as part of its Plan for Change scheme, which aims to upgrade crumbling water infrastructure using private investment.

Wastewater from water companies and private sewage treatment, along with rural and urban land use, are among a range of pollution issues the lake faces.

Reed said: “Windermere is a stunningly beautiful national treasure but it’s being choked by unacceptable levels of sewage pollution.”

Part of the Lake District National Park Unesco World Heritage Site, Windermere is home to more than 14,000 people and its scenery attracts an estimated seven million visitors per year.

But in 2024 it was revealed water company United Utilities repeatedly dumped millions of litres of raw sewage illegally into the lake over a three-year period.

Campaigners say pollution damage the environment causes harmful algal blooms and even kills fish

Save Windermere An aerial view of Windermere with several jetties stretching into the water but the water is a deep green because of algal blooms. — Campaigners say pollution damage the environment causes harmful algal blooms and even kills fish

Matt Staniek, a campaigner against sewage pollution and founder of Save Windermere, previously said Windermere was “the jewel in the crown of the Lake District National Park, and it’s being used as an open sewer”.

Local groups and organisations – including Save Windermere, United Utilities and the Environment Agency (EA) – have set up a feasibility study to look into what is needed to eliminate sewage discharges into the lake from successful examples from around the world.

The government said a first step was to look at new methods to reduce pollution from private sewage discharges into Windermere.

These included new treatment plants, along with schemes which would let owners of septic tanks and package treatment works ask for a connection to the mains sewer under certain conditions.

Restoring ‘natural beauty’

As part of the scheme, United Utilities will invest £200m towards upgrading 10 wastewater treatment works at Windermere and reducing spills from storm overflows into the lake to 10 per year by 2030.

The Environment Secretary said there would also be 33 additional EA specialist officers in the region and a quadrupling of water company inspections.

Reed said: “The government is committed to cleaning up this iconic lake.

“That is why we are working with a range of local groups and organisations to stop all sewage going into the lake and restore it to its natural beauty.”

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