Eight days of continuous sewage discharge recorded

Storm overflows discharged into Cunsey Beck, near Windermere, during prolonged rain

Untreated sewage and waste water continuously discharged near England's largest lake for eight days during prolonged rainy weather.

Storm overflows at a water treatment plant in Cumbria released water into Cunsey Beck, which runs into Windermere, from 15 to 23 September, information from water company United Utilities showed.

The firm said the region had seen sustained heavy rain over the last week and that its overflows were operating "as designed to avoid the flooding of homes and businesses".

The Environment Agency (EA) said it was investigating whether any of the recent discharges at the site were not compliant with permits issued for the Near Sawrey Wastewater Treatment Works.

According to the United Utilities website the facility began discharging into Cunsey Beck, which flows from Esthwaite Water to Windermere, at 02:15 BST on 15 September and continued until 12:11 on Tuesday.

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Water companies are allowed to release untreated sewage and waste water into rivers and seas when it rains heavily, to prevent flooding.

Records show close to a month's worth of rain for September fell at Brathay Hall, which is near Windermere, in the seven days from 15 September.

But the founder of the Save Windermere Campaign Matt Staniek blamed "insufficient investment" for discharges and said sewage pollution was causing "irreparable damage" to the lake.

A United Utilities spokesperson said the company was working to deliver the "largest ever upgrade" to wastewater services in Windermere.

"We are committed to driving down the number of times storm overflows operate.

"In 2024, we delivered a 31% reduction in spill duration, with the number of spills from storm overflows falling by 20%."

The EA said: "We understand the concern in the community regarding these discharges, and we will ensure that United Utilities deliver its required investments for environmental improvements over the next five years.

"An investigation to determine if any of the recent spills are not compliant with the permit for Near Sawrey has begun and if any offences are identified we will take the appropriate enforcement action."