BBC: Watchdog criticised over sewage spill permit
“The watchdog tasked with protecting the environment is not doing enough to prevent damage from water company sewage discharges, campaigners say.
The Save Windermere group said an Environment Agency (EA) permit for a waste water treatment works near Cunsey Beck in the Lake District had omissions and was not sufficiently stringent.
Matt Staniek from the group said the law was clear and "needs to be enforced".
The EA said the permit "already considers impacts on water quality" and the area's protected status.
Near Sawrey Wastewater Treatment Works discharges into Cunsey Beck, which flows from Esthwaite Water to Windermere and is in a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), external.
The water course is home to protected species such as Atlantic salmon, whiteclaw crayfish and European eel, Mr Staniek said.
The EA permit should be "one of the most stringent in the entire catchment", but is not, he added.””
