This summer I’ve been making the most of the light evenings with a swim in Windermere, and I feel so lucky to have the opportunity to experience such beauty and tranquillity right on my doorstep.

Unfortunately, too much phosphate is getting into Windermere, making it susceptible to algal blooms – bad news for lake users and wildlife too. As well as being unsightly, algal blooms can be toxic to people and pets, and can suffocate wildlife as the algal blooms die.

That’s where the Love Your Lakes campaign comes in. The aim of the campaign is to help businesses, residents and visitors reduce the amount of phosphate entering the lake and reduce the risk of algal blooms.

So what is phosphate and where does it come from? Phosphate is essentially a nutrient (the reason why algae loves it so much!) and comes from garden fertiliser, sewerage systems, food waste, agriculture and cleaning products, such as dishwasher detergent and commercial laundry detergent. But there are phosphate-free options.

Since the campaign started in 2011, 28 local businesses have been signed a vow to use p-free dishwasher and laundry detergent. These businesses recognise that the health of our lakes directly relates to the health of the local tourism industry.

As local businessman Nevil Jeffery from the Low Wood Bay Resort Hotel, English Lakes said: “The lake is crucial to the strength of our business. It’s the first thing guests look at and it’s the feature which our visitors come to enjoy.”

Businesses taking this positive step are rewarded with the Love Your Lakes Approved award to recognise their lake-friendly commitment. Here are some of the latest additions to our growing list of Love Your Lakes Approved businesses…

• Derek Hook, owner of Yewfield B&B 5 star guest house on Hawkshead Hill, is committed to using phosphate-free dishwasher and laundry detergent on site. He also called his external laundry supplier and checked that they use p-free products, so as not to pass the problem on to another location.

• At Buck Yeats Lodges near Newby Bridge, guests will find complimentary p-free dishwashing detergent for use during their stay. Visitors love this little extra and are pleased to know they are helping to keep the lake healthy. Managers Chris and Maureen Dodds recognise visitors may not know about the sensitivities of septic tanks, so have decided to display helpful information for their guests.

• At Low Wood Bay Resort Hotel, manager Nevil Jeffery has been using phosphate-free products for several years and believes this award will help to highlight the problem and the simple solutions that really make a difference.

And it’s not just accommodation businesses that want to get involved. Five estate and letting agents in the local area - Hackney & Leigh, Matthews Benjamin, Carter Jonas, Michael C L Hodgson, Catherine Smith Letting - offered to pass information on to new residents. This means new residents to our area will find out about the great work going on here and what they can do to get involved.

The collective action of residents can really make a difference. As well as choosing p-free dishwashing products, think about other sources of phosphates from your home.

Firstly, you can check your pipes are properly connected. Your waste water pipes will be larger and should go directly into the ground, while your clean rain water pipes should go into a drain. Incorrectly connected pipes allow dirty water and even sewage to flow directly into local watercourses!

If you have a septic tank, it’s important to make sure it is properly maintained and emptied by an approved company, and think about what you put down the toilet – natural body waste only please!

Since working at Nurture Lakeland on the Love Your Lakes campaign I’ve met business owners, employees, residents and visitors who all want to help to keep Windermere special. If you want to go p-free in your house or business there are plenty of options out there, and you might even find that these options are cheaper!

Take a look in your local shop or ask your supplier, or contact me for a p-free list sarahdale@nurturelakeland.org.