49 of the Strike Against Sewage We’re fast approaching week 52! Do you have any suggestions on how we should mark our one-year anniversary? As the year milestone draws near, it’s a good time to reflect on what the strike is all about. The strike provides an opportunity for people to come and talk to us about the campaign, to learn why we’re doing this and what our goals are. We’re always open to debate on the matter, though unfortunately, social media often isn’t the best platform for productive discussion. We have met and debated the topic with the head of United Utilities, the Environment Agency, OFWAT, the Secretary of State, the deputy prime minister and many other organisations and individuals wanting to talk to us about Windermere. The strike offers another avenue for these conversations, and if people can’t make it on a Monday between 9-10, we welcome them to reach out and arrange a meeting at another time. We deeply appreciate the hundreds of people who have come to support us at the strike, and we’ll see you again next Monday, 9-10. savewindermere.com

Week 40 of the Strike Against Sewage Even though it was raining, it certainly wasn’t torrential rain—more like a fine drizzle. But just after we finished for the day, Hawkshead pumping station began discharging untreated sewage into a site of special scientific interest. The Environment Agency is allowing this to happen right under our noses. They are allowing 0.25mm of rain to fall in the Lake District before untreated sewage is dumped into its lakes and rivers. We are only supposed to see this in exceptional weather. This morning’s rain is certainly not exceptional, just another day in the Lake District.

Week 37 of the Strike Against Sewage It’s a warm day with bright blue sunshine—a welcome change! As the school summer holidays begin, the pressure on our inadequate infrastructure increases, making Windermere especially vulnerable. Very soon, we will show you how this vulnerability is reflected in our lake and the consequences it brings. If you want to support the campaign today, please take 2 minutes to sign our call to politicians for greater protection of England’s largest lake. Join @ChrisGPackham, Paul Whitehouse, @WildlifeTrusts @sascampaigns @WindrushWasp @WildFishCons @cumbriawildlife @Campaign4Parks @CPRE @CleanIlkley @SOSWhitstable and @FriendsofLakes in advocating for this crucial action. This is something the new government can tangibly do very quickly following the general election. Follow the link below ⬇️ savewindermere.com/greater-p…

⚠️ Blue Green Algae samples exceeded WHO limits for recreational use of Windermere As part of our ongoing scientific monitoring of Windermere, we undertook sampling of a localised but extensive algal bloom that we were alerted to at Waterhead on 25th June 2024. We felt it was important for us to sample it because: 1. People were actively swimming in the bloom and with the start of the summer holidays, more people will be using Windermere for recreation 2. We deem that the Environment Agency's monitoring of bathing water, algal blooms, and general sampling of Windermere is not fit for purpose. The samples, independently analysed by internationally recognised and published algologist Dr. Nick Everall, who is also the ex-Principal Biologist at Severn Trent Water and a registered expert witness, demonstrated that cyanobacteria concentrations exceeded the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidance for recreational use of the lake. This is the second time in two years that the campaign has deemed the risk to human health a justifiable reason to undertake independent sampling at Waterhead. On both occasions, the WHO threshold has been surpassed. The full blog can be found savewindermere.com/news/bga-… Save Windermere is now calling on the new Environment Minister, @SteveReedMP , to enforce the installation of permanent signage along the shoreline of the lake at all publicly accessible locations and for regular monitoring by the Agency to be undertaken throughout the summer season across the entire lake, including toxin analysis. Dr Everall undertook toxin analysis of the samples, and in this case, toxins were not being produced at the time of analysis. However, expert consensus is that BGA produces toxins 60-70% of the time when a bloom is present. This analysis reaffirms our stance that the Environment Agency’s monitoring, warnings, and actions with regards to BGA on Windermere are woefully inadequate, not fit for purpose and pose a risk to public health. Save Windermere returned to the same location on 26th June, and the bloom had dissipated, as often occurs. Blue-green algal blooms are not present all year round, which emphasises the need for routine monitoring of the lake particularly in the summer season. We are often asked about swimming in Windermere, and our stance is very simple: the likelihood is you will swim in Windermere without any issues at all, but there are times when areas, such as Waterhead on 25th June, are not safe for swimming. The bathing water classifications, despite what United Utilities may suggest, are based on monitoring that is not fit for purpose and do not provide a genuine indication of whether it is safe to enter the water. As an example on 25th May 2022, at one of the bathing water sites on Windermere, the EA took a sample which had an e.coli concentration of 4500 cfu/100ml, this on its own would be classified as poor bathing water quality. You can sign our call for greater protection of Windermere by following the link below savewindermere.com/greater-p…