Water company vows to cut sewage spills into lake

United Utilities said work had been done to reduce sewage spills into Windermere

The number of overflow sewage spills into one of England's most famous lakes will be reduced, a water company has promised.

It comes after a BBC investigation found United Utilities (UU) repeatedly dumped millions of litres of raw sewage illegally into Windermere over three years.

The company said it was for the Environment Agency to determine whether spills were illegal.

Campaigners have attacked the firm for polluting the "culturally significant" lake.

Representatives from UU spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria, as part of an hour-long interview.

Andrew Kendall, the wastewater county business lead for Cumbria, said it had reduced spills at the Glebe site in Bowness.

"The investment we made in 2020 reduced storm overflows from the middle of Bowness from 200 times a year to an average of 30 now," Mr Kendall said.

The water company has six overflows around Windermere - which are pressure relief valves for when the sewer system becomes overwhelmed, like during heavy rainfall.

Mr Kendall said the plan was to cut them all to an average of 10 spills a year - work at four of the storm overflows will be completed by 2028 and the remaining two by 2030 at the latest.

'Legal duty'

When challenged about illegal spills uncovered by the BBC, Mr Kendall said: "We are talking to the Environment Agency about it.

"I can't comment because, as our regulator, it's for them to determine whether that was legal or illegal."

The Environment Agency (EA) said water companies are required to report any breaches of their permits.

"That is their legal duty and responsibility," a spokesperson said.

"If any water company is found to be in breach of an environmental permit, the Environment Agency will take the appropriate enforcement action up to and including a criminal prosecution."

The EA said it had completed nine inspections of United Utilities in the Windermere catchment this year.

Tackling rising bills

The company was also challenged on concerns from listeners about plans to raise bills in the coming years.

Head of customer service Sally Ainsworth said: "Our investment proposals will make a step-change.

"It's the largest we've seen in over 100 years."

She said the company had put together a "massive affordability programme" worth £520m, to help customers who would struggle with rising bills.