England’s largest lake to finally get clean up

Environment Secretary Steve Reed has vowed to ensure that “only rainwater” flows into England’s largest lake.

During a visit to Windermere in Cumbria, he emphasized the government’s commitment to cleaning up the lake as part of its Plan for Change initiative. The scheme aims to modernize deteriorating water infrastructure by leveraging private investment.

Windermere faces multiple pollution challenges, including wastewater from water companies, private sewage treatment, and the impact of land use in both rural and urban areas.

Reed stated, “Windermere is an incredibly beautiful national treasure, but it is being suffocated by unacceptable levels of sewage pollution.”

When asked about when the lake might be safe for swimming, he told media that it would take time, adding, “It won’t be ready as quickly as summer. It took a long time for the lake to reach this state.”

Situated within the Lake District National Park, a Unesco World Heritage Site, Windermere is home to over 14,000 people and attracts approximately seven million visitors annually.

However, in 2024, it was revealed that a water company had illegally discharged millions of liters of raw sewage into the lake over a three-year period.

Reed described the situation as “completely unacceptable,” highlighting that more than 140 million liters of pollution had entered the lake.

To address the issue, the government has secured an initial £200 million to begin diverting sewage away from Windermere and into treatment facilities. He acknowledged that the project would require additional time and funding, as part of a broader £100 billion five-year plan for the water sector.

“We are working with investors to bring in the necessary funds,” he said.

Matt Staniek, an anti-sewage pollution activist and founder of Save Windermere, called the announcement a “new dawn” for the lake.

“This is phenomenal news—everyone should recognize how significant this is for the entire country,” he said.

He described the announcement as the “first step” in a four-year campaign, adding, “Right now, this is just an objective, a vision, an ambition. We want to see a legally binding commitment, and we will continue pushing for it.”

Restoring ‘Natural Beauty’

Local groups, including Save Windermere, environmental organizations, and water industry stakeholders, have launched a feasibility study to explore global best practices for eliminating sewage discharges into the lake.

The government’s initial focus is on reducing pollution from private sewage systems. This includes new treatment plants and programs allowing septic tank and package treatment owners to apply for a connection to the main sewer system under specific conditions.

As part of the initiative, a water company will invest £200 million to upgrade 10 wastewater treatment plants and limit storm overflow discharges into Windermere to a maximum of 10 per year by 2030.

Additionally, 33 more environmental officers will be deployed in the region, and inspections of water companies will be quadrupled.

Reed reiterated the government’s dedication to restoring Windermere, stating, “We are working with a variety of local groups and organizations to put an end to sewage pollution and return this iconic lake to its natural beauty.”