Campaign Updates
The Save Windermere campaign will be joined by special guest Feargal Sharkey for their weekly strike against sewage pollution.
The strike will be held on Monday 8th April from 9-10am outside United Utilities Information Center, 8 Crescent Road, Windermere, LA23 1EA.
United Utilities’ 2023/24 EDM storm overflow data highlights significant sewage spilling in the Windermere catchment, pointing to regulatory failures and a lack of action from United Utilities. Save Windermere demands improved monitoring, adherence to the law, and accountability to safeguard public health and the environment.
In this two-part series we will explore swimming in Windermere. The ‘quality’ of the bathing water in Windermere is monitored by the EA, but as this mini-series will demonstrate, the EA’s reporting on bathing water quality is often misleading and, in our opinion, should not be used as a reliable indicator when deciding whether it is safe to enter the water. Part 1 focusses on the risks of Cyanobacteria and the inadequacies of sampling and monitoring of BGA.
We are thrilled to unveil the annual summary of our primary data collection initiative conducted in collaboration with WildFish. Although we are appalled by the findings. Read the full report and watch the film here.
Discover the failures of the Environmental Agency in the Windermere catchment through an in-depth analysis of a single permit issued to the Near Sawrey wastewater treatment site. This examination uncovers several concerning issues, including unrestricted phosphorus discharges, high ammoniacal nitrogen levels, frequent untreated sewage spills, and discrepancies in monitoring and flow measurement.
2023 has been a whirlwind of a year for the Save Windermere campaign. Since our first event in February, we’ve achieved a huge amount, thanks mainly to our incredible supporters, partners and our amazing team.
We wanted to share some of the highlights from this year and wish you all a very happy new year. We also want to say a huge thank you for making our first year as a community interest company such a success.
We are very proud that Matt has been named in The Sunday Times alternative honours of 2023. See the full list here and read why Matt has been chosen.
The Save Windermere campaign urgently demands an immediate independent public inquiry into the failure of water industry regulation by the Environment Agency in the Cumbria and Lancashire Area. The inquiry should focus on the regulation of United Utilities within the Windermere catchment in the Lake District National Park.
Save Windermere is demanding a re-opening of the Cunsey Beck fish kill investigation in light of evidence obtained through Environmental Information Regulation (EIR) requests which highlighted the inadequacies of the investigation.
Save Windermere calls for the Cunsey Beck fish kill investigation to be reopened by the Environment Agency, considering the revelations exposed in BBC Panorama documentary.
Save Windermere’s response to the Love Windermere partnership’s stakeholder workshop in November 2023.
The Save Windermere campaign is featured in an upcoming Panorama investigative documentary, titled “The Water Pollution Cover-Up”, airing on BBC1, Monday 4th December at 8pm.
Save Windermere EIR requests uncover illegality within Windermere catchment. Illegal spilling in 2022 on 15 days at Ambleside, 21 days at Near Sawrey, up to 12 days at Grasmere, and between 10 and 22 days at Hawkshead. OFWAT and Environment Agency must urgently act to enforce law against water companies. Water companies, not customers, must pay to end illegal sewage discharges.
Hmm, how can we get United Utilities to pay attention? Let’s try a different approach, and no we aren't going to glue ourselves to anything.
Every Monday from 9am to 10am, a member of the Save Windermere team will be planting themselves right in front of the United Utilities Information Center, in the heart of Windermere.
This will be an opportunity for all those who oppose United Utilities’ discharging of sewage into our lake to come and stand their ground in the Strike Against Sewage.
Now THIS is exciting. Save Windermere has partnered with Map Impact and the UK Space Agency in what we believe is the most innovative data collection project ever constructed to study the inputs into England's most iconic body of water, Windermere.
It's time to set the record straight. Victorian sewers are not to blame, whilst 80% of sewage spills are linked to inadequate capacity. Read on to learn the truth about the UK's sewage network and why we need to fight to save Windermere from sewage pollution.
After months of meticulous planning and phenomenal dedication from all involved, the incredible Chefs 4 Save Windermere fundraiser has drawn to a close, marking an unforgettable week.
Over 600 guests gathered to savour delectable cuisine from nine of the Lake District’s most prestigious Michelin-starred, critically acclaimed restaurants, all orchestrated by a dedicated team of over 100 volunteers.
Matt Staniek, founder of the Save Windermere campaign, was yesterday announced as the winner of the ‘Changemaker of the Year Award’ at the 2023 National Park Protector Awards.
Over the past two years, our campaign to stop sewage pollution in Windermere has been driven by a simple yet powerful message: we must protect our lake, our community, and our wildlife for now and for generations to come. Our one ask is very simple: stop the sewage.
So, let’s dive into the case studies. These demonstrate why complete removal of discharges is the only viable option to protect Windermere, and how this has been achieved elsewhere in the world, starting close to home with Elterwater.
Join us for a culinary extravaganza in the heart of Windermere, where the finest locally renowned chefs will come together for a week-long celebration of gastronomy, all in support of the Save Windermere campaign. Indulge your taste buds as the county’s top Michelin-starred and critically-acclaimed chefs showcase their culinary prowess, crafting exquisite dishes using the finest local ingredients.
That’s a wrap! Thank you all for joining us on the Glebe. What an amazing day to show United Utilities a United Lake District and demand an end to sewage pollution in our precious lake.
MEET US ON THE GLEBE TO SAVE OUR LAKE
Join the Save Windermere Campaign and our celebrity guests on the Glebe, 29 May.
We need you there to help share our simple message: Stop the Sewage!
If you want to see an end to sewage pollution in Windermere, join us on the Glebe with your friends and family to make your voice heard.
Save Windermere, WildFish and Cumbria Wildlife Trust have partnered to launch a SmartRivers ‘superhub’ on Windermere. The scaled-up hub will sample 15 river sites located on waterbodies which flow into the lake. These sites will help pinpoint the source and scale of pollution in the catchment and monitor changes in aquatic invertebrate populations.
Working with ioLight and BloomOptix, the Save Windermere campaign is looking to raise money to purchase a minimum of 5 handheld microscopes and to cover the subscription cost for the BloomOptix app for a minimum of 2 years. The app utilises machine learning to detect cyanobacteria down to genus level.
Save Windermere will donate these microscopes to lake users, swimming groups and local businesses to allow the real-time detection of harmful algal blooms and provide a better indication of when the lake may or may not be safe to swim in.
Matt and the Save Windermere team met with local swimming groups at the Holbeck Ghyll Hotel on the 18 April.
New film. A simple message. Stop the sewage.
New website. New brand. New film. We are here to stay.
Find out more about our campaign and what we are doing to end all sewage discharges into Windermere Lake.
As momentum grows and the national conversation around sewage pollution in our waterways intensifies, the Save Windermere campaign is proud to unveil our new branding and website that reflects our commitment to protecting our precious lake.
Join Matt and the Save Windermere team at one of our community meetings to find out more about the campaign, how you can help and our plans to Save Windermere.