Multi-billion pound plan unveiled to stop wastewater entering Windermere
A new feasibility study says only rainwater could enter the lake within years
A new feasibility study has concluded it would be technically possible to stop all wastewater and highway runoff from entering Windermere, England's largest natural lake.
The report, called Only Rainwater into Windermere, has been published by a coalition of regulators, local authorities, community groups, environmental campaigners and the region's water company.
It was developed over 15 months and sets out how a catchment-wide solution could protect the lake for the next 100 years.
Windermere sits at the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and supports internationally important habitats and species.
It also underpins a Lake District visitor economy worth £2.4 billion a year, according to the report.
What the study found
The report says Windermere is already experiencing ecological pressures, including increasing algal biomass, nutrient enrichment, and impacts on sensitive freshwater habitats and species.
It warns that rising temperatures will increase those pressures, while more intense rainfall will place greater stress on wastewater infrastructure.
Researchers assessed more than 70 potential solutions before narrowing these down to two preferred options.
Both would intercept and transfer wastewater away from the lake for advanced treatment elsewhere, using up to 138 kilometres of new sewerage network, 35 kilometres of highway runoff interception, and 37 hectares of sustainable drainage.
Wastewater infrastructure across the catchment could increase by up to 75%, with around 12,800 people connected to public sewers for the first time, the report says.
Both options also include a new tunnel to transfer wastewater to treatment facilities designed to meet some of the highest treatment standards in England.
The cost
The feasibility study estimates the preferred solutions would cost between £3.6 billion and £3.7 billion to build.
It says this would generate around £7.5 billion in economic, environmental and social benefits, equivalent to roughly £1.90 of value for every £1 spent.
The report says that if the scheme is not built, around £2.5 billion of incremental investment would still be needed in existing infrastructure across the catchment over the next century.
Under that scenario, treated wastewater would continue to be discharged into the lake, adding to the nutrient load that contributes to harmful algal blooms, according to the report.
Wider benefits and next steps
The report says the plan would also benefit connected water bodies including Grasmere, Rydal Water, Elterwater, Esthwaite Water and Blelham Tarn.
It includes proposals for a skills academy intended to support local employment and training during construction and beyond.
The study outlines an expected seven-year construction programme, following detailed design, planning, environmental assessment and regulatory approvals.
It says extensive underground tunnelling would be used to try to minimise disruption to local communities, businesses and the landscape.
The coalition behind the report comprises the Environment Agency, the Lake District National Park Authority, Love Windermere, Save Windermere, United Utilities and Westmorland and Furness Council.
It is now calling for continued collaboration between government, regulators, delivery partners and local stakeholders to consider the findings and explore the next stage of development.
What people are saying
Edward Twiddy, Independent Convener of the coalition, said: "Only Rainwater into Windermere is an exceptional vision for an exceptional place. Every year seven million people come to Windermere to sail, canoe, swim, paddle, fish or simply to enjoy its beauty. The natural and cultural history of this UNESCO World Heritage Site make it the jewel of the Lake District National Park, and its national and international significance is reflected in the lake's importance to the regional economy."
He added: "Our Only Rainwater into Windermere coalition has looked beyond the constraints of traditional five-year investment cycles and, after assessing more than 70 options, has identified a transformational solution that would improve resilience, adapt to a changing climate, protect this globally important environment and support sustainable growth in the Lake District economy."
Louise Beardmore, Chief Executive Officer of United Utilities, said: "What makes this work so extraordinary is the unprecedented coalition behind it. Environmental campaigners, local authorities, regulators, community groups, and United Utilities have come together with a shared ambition: to secure the future of Windermere for generations to come."
Matt Staniek, founder of Save Windermere, said: "Save Windermere has been calling for an end to sewage pollution in Windermere for five years. It is the principal driver of the environmental problems facing our lake, and eliminating it is essential to protect Windermere for future generations."
Carol Holt, Environment Agency Area Director for Cumbria and Lancashire, said: "The Lake District is a source of great national pride, with Windermere at its heart, attracting millions of visitors every year and providing a home to internationally important wildlife that depends on clean, healthy water to survive. But evidence shows our waters face growing pressures, including from sewage pollution which an ever-changing climate will only intensify. We must do more to protect them."