1st October 2024

The Love Windermere Partnership has welcomed United Utilities’ announcement to invest £156m in Windermere, taking the total investment over the next five years to around £200m.

United Utilities’ new investment plan focuses on upgrading wastewater treatment facilities and enhancing infrastructure to reduce the risk of storm overflows.

Treatment facility improvements will significantly enhance the processes for managing phosphorus, ammonia, suspended solids, and biological oxygen demands. Additionally, improvements to six storm overflows that currently discharge into the lake, will reduce spills to an average of 10 per annum per overflow.

A Collaborative Effort

The Love Windermere partnership is a collection of local organisations including public, private and third-sector organisations all united in a mission to improve water quality. This investment aligns with the partnership’s long-term strategy to protect Windermere and its surrounding environment.

A Shared Responsibility

While the investment is a welcome boost, the Love Windermere partnership continues to stress the importance of community involvement and collaboration. Residents, businesses and visitors all have a role to play in maintaining the lake’s health, from minimising waste to supporting local conservation efforts. Love Windermere will continue to work with stakeholders to promote sustainable practices and raise awareness about how everyone can contribute to protecting the lake.

Read United Utilities announcement and download United Utilities’ investment plan for the Cumbria region [UU-Customer-Summary-Cumbria-070324.pdf].