Скачать или смотреть The Big Windermere Survey two-year report

Results from the most spatially detailed water quality dataset for Windermere have been published by scientists from the FBA and Lancaster University, in response to community concerns and gaps in traditional water quality monitoring.

Here we join Simon Johnson, Executive Director at FBA, Dr Sophie Cowling, Senior Scientist at FBA, and Dr Ben Surridge, Deputy Director at Lancaster University's Environment Centre for insights from the Big Windermere Survey two-year report.

The Big Windermere Survey (BWS) report, covering the period June 2022 to November 2024, demands action to address ‘Poor’ water quality results.

The BWS saw 350 citizen scientists collect over 1,000 samples of water from Windermere and its wider catchment, during 10 sampling events spread across 2.5 years. Many of the 110 locations sampled had never previously been assessed for water quality.

Findings from the BWS report

The BWS report reveals that concentrations of E. coli and IE bacteria were highest in the summer months, at times when Windermere is especially popular for activities such as bathing and watersports. Based on the report data, concentrations of bacteria in the Northwest, Northeast and Southwest areas of the lake in summer were only consistent with standards for ‘Poor’ bathing water quality.

The elevated bacterial concentrations in summer are particularly concerning as they indicate an increased risk of gastro-intestinal illness if water is ingested.

All areas of Windermere were found to meet standards for ‘Moderate’ phosphorus status under UK legislation. This indicates that concentrations of phosphorus within the lake were higher than those required to meet the default target of ‘Good’ phosphorus status under this legislation.

Poorer water quality hotspots on Windermere and in the Leven catchment

Hotspots for the concentrations of phosphorus or bacteria are revealed around Windermere’s shoreline at Waterhead, Millerground, Bowness Bay, Belle Isle, Mitchell Wyke Bay, southwestern shore sites, and near the River Leven outflow. Streams and rivers including Stock Ghyll, Black Beck, Mill Beck, Wilfin Beck and locations along the River Rothay also showed elevated concentrations of phosphorus or bacteria.

What actions are needed now?

The team behind the Big Windermere Survey is calling for data from the project to underpin actions that address the multiple pressures on water quality in Windermere’s catchment. These pressures include wastewater, both from water company assets and from privately managed systems, as well as land use activities within both rural and urban areas of the catchment. All land owners, farmers and asset owners have a collective responsibility to work together to improve Windermere’s water quality.

Find out more and download the BWS report on our website:

https://www.fba.org.uk/fba-voice/wind...

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