Water firm United Utilities has pledged to spent £156 million to help improve the quality of Windermere.
The firm said it had previously put forward plans to invest more than £41 million to tackle and reduce spills from four storm overflows in the Windermere catchment.
Now, it said it was proposing to make an additional £156 million of improvements across nine wastewater treatment works and all six storm overflows that discharge into the lake and deliver a further step change in wastewater treatment.
The funding proposed for 2025 and beyond would see improvements to wastewater treatment sites at Ambleside; Far Sawrey; Ferry House; Grasmere; Hawkshead; Langdale; Near Sawrey; Outgate; and Troutbeck.
It said the investment would improve treatment processes for phosphorus, ammonia, suspended solids and biological oxygen demand across those sites and improvements to each of the six storm overflows would reduce spills to an average of 10 per annum per overflow.
Andrew Kendall, Wastewater business lead for United Utilities in Cumbria, said: “Over the last two decades, we have invested millions of pounds upgrading our wastewater treatment sites, pumping stations and sewers around Windermere.
“The steps we have taken so far, and the investments proposed today demonstrate our commitment and ambition to helping to improve the environment across Windermere and beyond.
“The enhancement to our treatment works, and its associated infrastructure, will treat wastewater to even higher standards across Windermere, reducing the amount of phosphorus entering the lake.
“Together with the investment at all 6 overflows to reduce spills, we are making a step change to tackle the current challenges and deliver outcomes that benefit the environment and our communities for both today and the future.”
The company has been heavily criticised by campaign group Save Windermere for sewage spills into the lake.
Save Windermere wants an immediate commitment from the water firm and the Environment Agency to cease all sewage discharges into the lake.
Earlier this year, figures from the Environment Agency showed that since 2020, United Utilities has dumped over 27,787 hours – equivalent to 1,157 full days in four years – of untreated sewage which has found its way into Windermere lake.
Following the announcement from United Utilities, Save Windermere said: “It’s clear to us at Save Windermere that our campaigning has led to this proposed investment but United Utilities have another think coming if they think we’re stopping now.
“I’m sure they’re hoping this announcement takes our attention away from the exploitation of our lake, the irreparable damage that they have done, the dividend returns to their shareholders and the actual solution for Windermere which can only be the complete removal of sewage.
“This is a win for Windermere, but we won’t stop yet. We implore everyone reading to join Save Windermere’s fight to end sewage pollution once and for all.”
