Press & Media
True Extent of United Utilities’ Illegal Sewage Discharges in Windermere Exposed
Over 500 days with illegal sewage discharges have been exposed in Windermere, as United Utilities’ untreated spills go unchecked. This blog delves into the shocking data, the regulatory failures, and Save Windermere’s call for accountability to protect England’s largest lake.
The Guardian: United Utilities refuses to hand over data on sewage discharges into Windermere
United Utilities refuses to hand over data on sewage discharges into Windermere. Water company claims information is not in the public interest despite widespread pollution of UK waters.
The Guardian: ‘It’s a national disgrace’: fury at sewage-filled Windermere over toxic algae and dead fish
Campaigners blame United Utilities for blighting famous lake with raw effluent.
The Guardian: UK ‘falling behind’ on sewage pollution regulation while EU tightens rules
The UK is falling further behind on sewage pollution regulation as the EU tightens its rules to clean up Europe’s waterways, say critics.
The Guardian: Thousands of blue-clad protesters join London march for clean water
More than 130 organisations take part in protest demanding government action over country’s sewage crisis
BBC: Calls for overhaul of sewage discharge recording
Campaigners have called for changes to how sewage discharge is recorded. Water companies currently only have to record how long sewage is pumped into rivers and not how much is released.
The Times: The Times view on sewage dumping in Windermere, Murky Waters
The illegal discharges into the Lake District’s most famous lake and the failure to report them is destroying the UK’s natural treasure.
Over 140 million litres of sewage illegally dumped into Windermere
Our latest investigation exposes the shocking illegal dumping of over 140 million litres of sewage into Windermere by United Utilities. Read on to see the full analysis reported by the BBC and what actions we're demanding to protect our lake.
BBC: Sewage dumped illegally in Windermere over 3 years
A water company repeatedly dumped millions of litres of raw sewage illegally into one of England's most famous lakes over a three-year period, the BBC can reveal.
More than 140 million litres of waste were pumped into Windermere between 2021 and 2023 at times when it was not permitted, our analysis shows, and United Utilities failed to report most of it.
The Times: UU becomes first water company to be hit with special enforcement measure by the ICO
United Utilities become the first water company to be hit with a special enforcement measure by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) over failure to comply with transparency laws.
The Times: Water watchdog chief seeks to stem consumers’ sewage lawsuits
A director of England’s water regulator is spearheading a campaign that could make it harder for consumers to sue water companies that breach legal sewage limits.
Time to End the Sewage Scandal: Why Special Administration is the Solution
The time has come for bold action to fix our broken water industry. Our report, co-authored with Professor Ewan McGaughey, calls on the government to place failing water companies into Special Administration. Supported by a coalition of leading experts and campaign groups, we outline how this legal tool can end illegal sewage discharges, cancel unmanageable debt, and prioritise environmental protection over shareholder profits.