New storm tanks created at Ambleside and Windermere wastewater treatment works to help improve water quality

United Utilities has created additional storage at two of its sites around Windermere to help improve water quality.

The company has repurposed tanks at its Ambleside and Windermere wastewater treatment works to create an additional 2.6 million litres of storage across the two sites – the equivalent of around 33,000 bathtubs or just over an Olympic size swimming pool! 

As a result of upgrades at both sites, the tanks were redundant and able to be repurposed into storm tanks after the installation of some new equipment.  The additional storage will help increase the amount of storm water the sites can store and then return for full treatment, reducing the number of times the storm overflows need to operate during periods of heavy rainfall.

Andrew Kendall, Wastewater Lead for United Utilities in Cumbria, said: “We continue to review our network and sites around Windermere to see where we can make further improvements to help improve the water quality of the lake. 

“Our teams have worked quickly to repurpose these tanks and it will help make a real difference by reducing storm overflow operations from two of our sites.”

Over the last two decades, United Utilities has invested £75 million upgrading wastewater treatment sites, pumping stations and sewers around Windermere, with £45 million of that work completed in 2020.

Further investment is due to take place between now and 2030 to reduce further storm overflow operations at Elterwater, Hawkshead, Ambleside and Near Sawrey.  The company is also deploying rapid solutions at a number of sites across Cumbria to help reduce storm overflow operations.