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Search the Public Notice PortalUnited Utilities is making progress in reducing spills from storm overflows across Cumbria, backed by a multi-billion-pound investment plan to help improve water quality and protect the environment.
There has been an 18% reduction in spill duration across Cumbria and a 28% reduction in spill duration at Windermere in 2024, according to official figures just released by the Environment Agency. This is despite more rainfall and a year in which there were nine named storms.
There is more to do and the water company is getting on with bringing improvements through a £13 billion region wide programme over the next five years, which is the largest investment in water and wastewater services in a century.
This includes tackling more than 149 storm overflows located across Cumbria.
£200 million plan for Windermere
United Utilities’ plan for Windermere will see it improving treatment standards at nine of the treatment sites which support the Windermere catchment. Its Windermere treatment works is already treating and cleaning wastewater at the best technically achievable limit there is. It will also tackle all six of the storm overflows, creating extra storage capacity, which will reduce spills down to 10 or less per year.
This is the largest ever upgrade to wastewater services in Windermere and will deliver major benefits:
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89% reduction in storm spills – 489 fewer spills per year
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49% reduction in phosphorous – 1.4 tonnes per year removed
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100% monitoring of all types of overflows
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96% of wastewater will be treated to the highest possible standard using the best global technology
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Other key projects in Cumbria
Early investment across Cumbria is already delivering tangible benefits. Projects include delivering new storage tanks, creating sustainable drainage solutions to help capture or slow the flow of water from surface water run-off and improvements to its wastewater network.
These include:
Cartmel: The existing pumping station at Cark has been transformed into a self-contained wastewater treatment works. This means the wastewater that used to come into the pumping station, which was pumped uphill to Grange-over-Sands, is now biologically treated to the highest standards in Cark before being safely returned to the environment.
Cargo: A new tank was installed to provide temporary storage for spills and an additional storm tank to add a further 75m3 capacity. Spills have since reduced from 343 a year to 1 since August 2023, dramatically improving performance and an equally dramatic reduction in the impact on the environment at this small wastewater treatment works servicing 254 homes.
Driving progress
Matt Hemmings, Chief Operating Officer at United Utilities, said: “Our teams right across the North West are working extremely hard to make improvements that benefit local rivers, watercourses and bathing waters. This includes increasing storage and implementing sustainable drainage solutions to deploying innovative wastewater treatment methods. With the largest-ever infrastructure overhaul ahead, these projects will drive real progress for our communities."
Find out more at www.unitedutilities.com/significant-reduction-in-storm-overflow-spills
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