Save Windermere calls to stop all sewage into Windermere

Those were the words of Save Windermere founder Matt Staniek after a week-long culinary campaign event saw Michelin star chefs, politicians and celebrities gathering to raise money and awareness to combat sewage input into England's largest lake. 

Mr Staniek wants all treated and untreated sewage that feeds into Windermere to stop. This includes Ambleside and Windermere Waste Water Treatment Works, and a number of smaller treatment works around the wider catchment, all operated by United Utilities. 

Michelin chefs Ryan Blackburn of the Old Stamp House Ambleside and Steven Doherty gave their support to Matt Staniek's event (Image: Submitted)

The campaign argues that Windermere is an enclosed body of water, and only by completely removing all nutrient inputs will the lake be preserved for future generations. It compares Windermere to famous lakes in France and America which have taken a similar approach.

He said: "For too long, Windermere has been exploited, imperiling its delicate ecosystem, rare species, local economy and cultural heritage, which collectively define the global Lake District brand. This beloved lake, visited by people worldwide, must be saved from pollution. We stand at a crucial juncture, calling for unified action to preserve Windermere, safeguarding its natural beauty and economic vitality for generations to come.”

Save Windermere has had 275,000 signatures to its petitions, more than any other about sewage pollution. In June, the Freshwater Biological Association warned lake users not to swim 'as a precautionary measure' due to blooms of blue-green algae, which can be caused by excessive nutrient input from treatment works and combined sewer overflows. 

Matt Staniek speaking at one of the Chefs for Save Windermere nights (Image: Submitted)

The association also blamed other factors such as climate change, septic tanks, runoff from land surrounding the lake and release from sediment at the lakebed. 

Comedians Steve Coogan and Lee Mack attended a night hosted by 1* Michelin chef Ollie Bridgwater from SOURCE at Gilipin Hotel. The week, called Chefs for Save Windermere, also had nights led by Ryan Blackburn from The Old Stamp House, and Paul Burgalières of acclaimed Simon Rogan restuarant L'Enclume. 

The Gilpin Hotel, Simon Rogan Restaurants, The Lakes Distillery, BELU, Bath House and McClures are some of the local and national businesses that gave their support to the event. 

Save Windermere says that United Utilities, the Environment Agency and the Lake District National Park Authority have failed to manage excessive nutrients entering Windermere. 

Guests arriving at one of the venues for the nights (Image: Submitted)

A United Utilities spokesperson replied: “We all want to see the cleanest possible water in Windermere, which is why we will be playing our part. We are already planning projects at four sites around the lake to meet the new requirements of the Environment Act, bringing forward £19m of investment over the next two years.

“We are also a member of the Love Windermere partnership which is working towards improved water quality in the lake and will naturally explore the feasibility of any potential solutions.”

The Environment Agency regulates United Utilities. It argued that pollution in general is an issue in Windermere. A spokesperson said: "We are working hard to protect and improve water quality by regulating and holding polluters to account. We are clear that polluting our seas, rivers and lakes is unacceptable and we will take tough action against those which break the rules.

“Everyone living and working in Windermere, or visiting as a tourist, can play their part in reducing pollution. Not putting fats and oils down the sink or flushing wet wipes, using phosphate free products, checking pipes are connected properly and maintaining septic tanks all make a big difference. However, if you see pollution on our rivers or lakes, call our incident hotline 24/7 on 0800 80 70 60.”

The Park Authority 'recognised the public interest' in Windermere.

Steve Ratcliffe, director of sustainable development for the park authority continued: "The Lake District National Park Authority continues to work collaboratively with experts and the community through the Love Windermere partnership, taking an evidence-based approach to address the three main pollution sources: wastewater, septic tanks and land management; this is alongside the wider challenges of existing lake phosphate, climate change and our commitment to improve conditions.

"Recent Love Windermere activity includes the Big Windermere Survey citizen science, community and farmer events and septic tank emptying schemes.”