‘The nation is watching’: sewage dumps in Windermere must end, says activist

Ministers urged to do more after United Utilities discharged raw sewage into Unesco site for 6,327 hours last yearCelebrated by William Wordsworth, Windermere has long epitomised the natural timeless beauty of the Lake District, with millions of tourists drawn to the shores that inspired the poet. But today England’s biggest lake is a shadow of its 19th century self: its waters no longer clear but blighted by algae and its wildlife decimated by pollution, in a symbol, critics say, of all that is wrong with the privatised water industry.This month the environment secretary, Steve Reed, vowed to break with the recent past, standing on its shores and promising that Labour would “clean up Windermere”. The lake is showing the impact of sewage pollution from United Utilities treatment plants and increased pressure from climate change-induced temperature rises. Continue reading...

Mar 27, 2025 - 16:11
 0
‘The nation is watching’: sewage dumps in Windermere must end, says activist

Ministers urged to do more after United Utilities discharged raw sewage into Unesco site for 6,327 hours last year

Celebrated by William Wordsworth, Windermere has long epitomised the natural timeless beauty of the Lake District, with millions of tourists drawn to the shores that inspired the poet. But today England’s biggest lake is a shadow of its 19th century self: its waters no longer clear but blighted by algae and its wildlife decimated by pollution, in a symbol, critics say, of all that is wrong with the privatised water industry.

This month the environment secretary, Steve Reed, vowed to break with the recent past, standing on its shores and promising that Labour would “clean up Windermere”. The lake is showing the impact of sewage pollution from United Utilities treatment plants and increased pressure from climate change-induced temperature rises. Continue reading...