Two more designated bathing sites in Cumbria were given do not swim warnings by the Environment Agency this week, bringing the total to four.
It follows the news last month the visitors to two sites in the Lake District – Crow Park in Derwentwater, in Keswick, and Coniston Water Boating Centre – were given the advice due to the poor quality of the water due to the levels of bacteria found in samples.
According to the Environment Agency’s Swimfo website, which provides advice on a number of designated bathing sites around England, this week both sites still had poor water quality ratings and it was still advised not to swim at either site.
Earlier this week it was advised not to swim at Haverigg, but it only applied on Monday, August 4, and it is currently rated as sufficient.
Also, earlier this week, Allonby, where the water quality rating is good, also had do not swim advice.
The latest sample was taken from Derwentwater, which was first designated as bathing water in 2024, on July 30 and, according to the Environment Agency website, there were 1300 colonies of Escherichia coli per 100ml of water and 750 colonies of Intestinal Enterococci per 100ml of water.
In addition, tests on samples taken on July 30 from Coniston Water showed there were 210 colonies of Escherichia coli per 100ml of water and less than 10 colonies of Intestinal Enterococci per 100ml of water and on July 16 the figures were 310 and 290 respectively.
However, tests on samples taken on July 22 from Coniston Water showed there were 410 colonies of Escherichia coli per 100ml of water and 240 colonies of Intestinal Enterococci per 100ml of water and on July 16 the figures were 310 and 290 respectively.
Steve Ratcliffe, director for sustainable development at the Lake District National Park Authority, said: “Coniston’s varied bathing water classifications reflect the complex challenges affecting our lakes.
“While it is encouraging to see Monk Coniston classified as excellent and Brown Howe as good, the poor classification at the Boating Centre demonstrates the need for further investment and action.
“This is the first year Coniston (Boating Centre) has been assigned bathing water status, and the information gained from the water quality monitoring is invaluable in prompting action and protecting the lake’s future. People accessing the lake are informed about the bathing water status through signage on site.
“The authority is working with the local community and partners, including the Environment Agency and United Utilities, to improve the bathing water status assigned to Coniston Boating Centre.”
A United Utilities spokesman said: “There are many factors that can impact bathing water quality. We’re committed to playing our part and working with others to improve water quality right across the north-west.
“We’re now embarking on our largest investment in wastewater infrastructure for a century that will protect and enhance over 500km of rivers, lakes and bathing waters.”
He confirmed that, during a 24-hour period when the do not swim advice was in place, United Utilities’ storm overflows at Allonby and Haverigg had not operated.
The spokesman said that over the last 30 years the organisation had invested more than £1.5 billion in bathing water improvements and added: “We are working in partnership with others where there are multiple factors which can impact water quality, whether that be from wildlife, animals, agricultural or road run-off, storm overflow discharges, private septic tanks etc to find solutions.”
He said that United Utilities has 34 bathing waters in the North West, with five new designations in 2024, and has made good progress in improving river water quality, which has a knock-on impact on our coastal waters and lakes.
Sophie Aziz, South Cumbria Rivers Trust Trust manager, said: “Following the 2024 Poor classification for Coniston Boating Centre, Westmorland and Furness Council, alongside key stakeholders including the Environment Agency and Coniston Parish Council, have developed an action plan to improve the bathing water site and address the various pollution sources.
“These include diffuse sources such as waterfowl and agricultural run-off, and point sources including Coniston Wastewater Treatment Works (WwTW) situated approximately 100metres upstream, and private sewage systems within the locality.
“It will need collaborative action and funding to make these improvements but work is already underway, including more regular monitoring, WwTW upgrades, and engagement with local homeowners and farmers regarding best practice and maintenance regimes.”
When the news first broke last month an Environment Agency spokesman said: “We are dedicated to ensuring that bathing water quality at Crow Park, Derwentwater, is improved.
“Crow Park is one of our newly designated bathing water sites. Several factors could be impacting its water quality, and we are conducting investigations to understand what they are.
“We appreciate the community’s patience and co-operation as we work towards resolving these issues.”
Speaking last month Louise Dunn, the mayor of Keswick and member of the town council, said Derwentwater was being closely monitored for bacteria and algal blooms.
She said that possible sources of the bacteria were waste from humans, animals or birds, sewage systems, septic tanks, wildlife and agricultural contamination, but the relative contribution of each of these sources was currently not clear.
Cllr Dunn added: “Unfortunately, the first year’s monitoring results have given a classification for Derwentwater at Crow Park of poor – with advice against swimming.
“But It’s not all bad news – we are seeing a pattern of peaks of bacteria after periods of high rainfall. The rest of the time the levels have been fairly low.
“The investment the Environment Agency is making in water quality monitoring will help the various agencies and landowners identify and investigate sources of pollution and address them.
“So, in the mid to longer term the lake quality should improve and this will be really good for tourism. Until now we have been swimming in the dark, so to speak. Swimmers can check the latest water quality readings on the Swimfo web site.
“Visitors to Derwentwater can help reduce pollution in the lake too – by picking up after their dogs, not feeding the geese and ducks, disposing of campervan waste correctly, and not leaving human poo on the lakeshore – yes, really that happens.”
