A water company is to build a new 30-metre-diameter stormwater storage tank to divert pollution from England’s largest lake.
United Utilities has pledged its commitment to improve water quality in Lake Windermere following years of pressure from campaigners over repeated sewage and wastewater discharges.
Windermere, within the Lake District in Cumbria, is a Unesco world heritage area. As the largest natural lake in England, it is 18km in length and 1.6km at its widest. Known as a ribbon lake because of its long and narrow dimensions, it is home to unique native wildlife, including the Arctic char, and is a popular swimming spot.
However, like many waterways in the UK, it suffers from sewage pollution. Campaign group Save Windermere was founded in 2021 to put pressure on water companies and government to stop all treated and untreated sewage from entering the lake.
For example, in November 2024 a report by The Observer revealed how seven United Utilities sewage plants and pumping stations...