Government to pledge to clean up Windermere | Global News Avenue

Environment Minister Steve Reed promised to ensure “only rainwater” enters England’s largest lake.

During a visit to Windermere, Cumbria, he said the government was “committed to clearing this iconic lake” as part of its plan to upgrade the collapsed water infrastructure using private investment.

The wastewater and private sewage treatment of water companies, as well as the use of rural and urban land, are a series of pollution problems for the face of the lake.

“Windermere is an amazing and beautiful national treasure, but it has been choked by unacceptable sewage pollution,” Reed said.

Part of Windermere is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to over 14,000 people, and its scenery attracts approximately 7 million visitors each year.

But in 2024 It is revealed that water company and utility companies have repeatedly dumped Millions of liters of raw sewage were illegally introduced into the lake in three years.

Matt Staniek, an campaigner against sewage pollution, founder of Save Windermere, has previously said that Windermere is “the crown jewel of the Lake District National Park, which is used as an open sewer.”

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

The government said the first step is to study new methods to reduce pollution from private sewage discharge to Windermere.

These include a new treatment plant, and Plans for owners who allow septic tanks and packaging treatments Connection to the power sewer is required under certain conditions.

As part of the scheme, United Utility will invest £200 million to upgrade 10 wastewater treatment projects in Windermere and reduce the spillover from storm overflow to 10 per year by 2030.

The environment minister said there will be 33 EA specialists in the region, as well as triple the inspection of water companies.

“The government is committed to cleaning this iconic lake,” Reed said.

“That’s why we are working with a range of local groups and organizations to stop all sewage from entering the lake and restore it to natural beauty.”