Windermere sewage plan could connect 12,800 people to the sewer network

A proposal by ORiW would connect 12,800 people to the sewer network for the first time, with up to 86 miles (138 km) of new sewage infrastructure and a single sewage treatment plant.

Two plans proposed for treating Windermere sewage

Both proposals centre on a 4-metre-wide sewage tunnel, but they differ over where treated wastewater would be discharged.

Under one option, treated wastewater would be released into the River Leven. The alternative would discharge it into the Irish Sea at Ulverston.

How much could the Windermere sewage project cost?

The report outlines two options for funding the project.

The cost could be passed on to United Utilities customers, adding up to £3.17 to their monthly bills, depending on which route is chosen.

Nigel Wilkinson, of the Love Windermere Group, said the cost should instead be spread across the country. The group works with many local businesses and has proposed increasing bills across the UK by up to 35p a month.

“We believe that Windermere’s national and international significance warrants treating it as a national asset and funding it accordingly,” he said.

Government promise to stop sewage entering Windermere

The future of the project could depend on the Government’s commitment to a promise made by then Environment Secretary Steve Reid to stop all sewage entering Windermere in March 2025.

A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokesperson said the Government shared public determination to protect the iconic lake, while stressing that more work was needed to test alternative options.