Wonderful Windermere: A nature-based solution delivering real results for Lake Windermere

‘Wonderful Windermere’ is a scheme through which United Utilities can help property and business owners in the Windermere catchment improve their wastewater treatment systems. The aim of the scheme is to reduce the volume of phosphorus reaching the lake and ultimately deliver the greatest benefit to the environment.

Working with organisations within the Love Windermere partnership, United Utilities are supporting customers and communities to deliver improvements to their septic tanks, larger package treatment plants and via land management. This five-year scheme runs until 2030 and has targets to hit to ensure that phosphorus levels are reduced year on year.

🌊 What has been happening?

Over the past year, teams from United Utilities have been working alongside South Cumbria Rivers Trust to help improve water quality in Windermere.

Together, they’ve delivered an innovative nature-based solution at YMCA Lakeside, located on the western shore. The project enhances the site’s existing wastewater treatment system, helping to remove more phosphorus before the final effluent reaches the lake.

And the best part? The year one results show it’s making a real difference.

💧 How does it work?

Designed by SCRT, the solution is a simple but highly effective addition to the existing treatment process. Before the final effluent enters the nearby watercourse, it now passes through three extra stages:

Stage 1: Natural filtration

Wastewater flows through a newly created wetland, where plants and natural processes help trap sediment.

Stage 2: Phosphorus capture

Next, it passes through a special reactive media bed designed to remove phosphorus.

Stage 3: Final polishing

Finally, the water enters a pond that provides an additional layer of treatment before being released into the watercourse.

It’s a fantastic example of nature and engineering working together to protect the environment, enhance biodiversity and improve habitats.

📈 Year One Results

The first-year target was to remove 9.5kg of phosphorus from the Windermere catchment.

The actual result?

✅ 12.57kg removal in year one

That’s more than 30% above target, demonstrating that the system is performing even better than expected and delivering meaningful environmental benefits for the lake.

While the numbers may seem small, reducing phosphorus is a vital part of improving water quality and supporting the long-term health of Windermere’s ecosystem.

📅 What’s next?

This successful first year is just one chapter in the wider Wonderful Windermere programme. United Utilities are already underway with projects for year two and are on the lookout for further opportunities for future years.

For now, it’s a moment to celebrate what can be achieved when expertise, innovation and partnership come together. Everyone involved has played a part in creating a solution that’s already making a positive impact on the future of Windermere.

👉 Read the full case study here

👉 Want to dive deeper into the science behind the project? Read the full methodology document here

More information on the Wonderful Windermere performance commitment will be made available in the United Utilities Annual Progress Report, published by 1st September 2026.