Most of Windermere polluted with sewage bacteria, finds biggest survey of its kind | Lake District
According to a comprehensive analysis of the water quality in the largest lake of the UK, the quality of the bath water is low in most Windermere, which shows high levels of sewage pollution.
High bacterial levels in human feces showing sewage pollution – Escherichia coli (E coli) and intestinal enterococci (IE) – Windermere was found to be the highest in the summer months when it was used intensively by holidaymakers for swimming and water sports.
The results come from the largest water quality research in the lake, which includes 350 citizens who have received more than 1,000 samples in the Great Windermere survey for two and a half years.
. consequencesPublished on Tuesday, many regions of the lake, which has not been analyzed for water quality before, includes data on water quality.
In the summer, the analysis shows that some of the most popular touristic places such as E coli and IE bacteria in the north-west, north-east and south-west regions of the lake are consistent with weak bath water quality.
Bacterial concentrations peaked in the summer, but the analysis showed high levels throughout the year.
High levels of phosphorus was found in the sampling, the northern and southern regions of the lake meeting standards are not good moderate.
Healthy lakes and rivers should have low phosphorus levels to support plants and wildlife. In accordance with the water frame directive managing the monitoring of the UK waters, the government registered at a target to obtain at least “good” ecological status in all water bodies by 2027 – registered to a target, including phosphorus concentrations.
Only 14% England’s rivers and lakes have good ecological standards.
Simon Johnson, General Manager of Fresh Water Biology Association, who developed the test project with Lancaster University, said: “The evidence is clear and it should lead to decisive action to improve water quality.
Environmental Secretary Steve Reed promised to clean Windermere after criticism of the sewage volume pumped into it. And the legal discharge of sewage treated by the United Public Services BBC Investigation was illegally evacuated to millions of liters of raw sewerage Water road.
Lancaster University Research found that there were maximum media and intestinal enterococcal concentrations in the popular tourism position of the Gulf of Bowness;
The main bacteria and phosphorus sources are due to water company areas, agricultural flow and special septic tanks treated and untreated sewage discharge. Windermere Shorelin, Waterhead, Millerground, Bowness Bay, Belle Isle, Mitchell Wyke Gulf, South-West coastal fields and Leven had at least a bacterial parameter concentrations near the River of the River River.
Johnson said Windermere hosts a number of rare and increasingly threatened freshwater species. “Without a decisive action to improve water quality, such and potentially more will face a stable and destructive decline.
“We hope that these findings will not only advance the scientific understanding of Windermere’s water quality, but also play a very important role in shaping future strategies to protect and improve the health of the lake and the surrounding basin.”
Matt Staniek, who established the Save Windermere campaign, said the results were curse. Uz We finally see science that has not been manipulated by the interests earned in the basin or shaped by those who receive money from the water company, ”he said.
“The evidence on the ground confirms that the local people know from the beginning: Windermere is in the crisis due to sewage pollution.
A United Utilities spokesman said:
“United Utilities is fond of us to continue to improve water quality in the lake. Our teams are trying to complete multiple projects to treat waste water according to the highest possible standards.
“We are working with all other organizations and individuals affecting the water quality in the lake to ensure the change of step we want to see.”
