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Matt Staniek @savewindermere.bsky.social · 18/04/2025

⚠️ WARNING: Not one to watch while eating. This is treated sewage being discharged from Langdale Wastewater Treatment Works, where it enters the River Brathay. I wouldn’t want to swallow this while out for a swim — would you? This was taken Wednesday at 17:25 Happy Easter from United Utilities.

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Matt Staniek @savewindermere.bsky.social · 27/03/2025

Today, you’ll no doubt see the shocking revelations about the mass sewage dumping that has taken place across the country in 2024. We’ve been featured in the Guardian by Sandra Laville. Windermere sewage dumping within ⬇️ www.theguardian.com/environment/...

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Big Issue @bigissue.com · 14/03/2025

Labour has vowed to clean up Windermere – a truly historic moment. But the fight for a sewage-free lake is not over writes Matt Staniek, founder and director of @savewindermere.bsky.social ✊ ⬇️ buff.ly/BzkesSG

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Matt Staniek @savewindermere.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

Save Windermere remains the only voice calling for a long-term infrastructure investment plan to eliminate sewage pollution from England's largest lake once and for all. This solution has been achieved in lakes across the world — it's not a question of what’s possible, but of cost and political will

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Matt Staniek @savewindermere.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

In 2024 alone, the sites surrounding Windermere discharged 6,327 hours of untreated sewage into the lake. Don't be fooled by United Utilities' next round of investment — it isn't enough. Their plans will not protect Windermere into the future. Now, more than ever, we must demand more.

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Matt Staniek @savewindermere.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

Breaking News New data obtained by Save Windermere and analysed by Professor Peter Hammond shows that since 2020, United Utilities has dumped 33,410 hours of untreated sewage into Windermere — which is the equivalent 1,392 full days. It's worth noting there are only 1,827 days between 2020 and 2024

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Jamie @movingslowly.bsky.social · 24/02/2025

Interesting to see this small print on the 2025 United Utilities water bill - certain that second point’s only included due to the tireless campaigning of Matt Staniek & volunteers @savewindermere.bsky.social #Windermerde

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WindrushWASP @windrushwasp.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

Watch a massively expensive bail-out being dropped on captive customers or fight against it - in the High Court? Follow the windrushwasp blog @jennyjones.bsky.social @cleanilkley.bsky.social @savewindermere.bsky.social

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Matt Staniek @savewindermere.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

Week 64 of the Strike Against Sewage We are back outside UU’s Windermere HQ, to hold them accountable for the pollution affecting our lake We need bold action to achieve an end to sewage pollution in Windermere. This will protect Windermere for the nation—now and forever.

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Matt Staniek @savewindermere.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

This outcome was hard-won, requiring years of campaigning, media coverage, ICO complaints, and the imposition of a special enforcement measure on UU – the first ever for a UK water company. While encouraged by UU’s new approach, we will remain vigilant. We will stand to fight for transparency again

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Matt Staniek @savewindermere.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

Since the decision, UU has not only released the appeal data but has also provided additional requested information. We commend their new commitment to transparency regarding England’s largest lake.

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Matt Staniek @savewindermere.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

Save Windermere worked tirelessly as a second respondent in the case, with pro-bono support from barristers Nicholas Ostrowski and Samuel Glanville.

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Matt Staniek @savewindermere.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

In a major victory for Save Windermere, United Utilities (UU) has withdrawn their appeals against the ICO’s decision to release environmental information. They have also disclosed the data they were fighting to withhold. Full statement: www.savewindermere.com/news/uu-drop...

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Matt Staniek @savewindermere.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

Yesterday’s sunset over Windermere. Photos can never truly do it justice—it really is such a remarkable place. savewindermere.com

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Matt Staniek @savewindermere.bsky.social · 13/01/2025

It is also week 63 of the Strike Against Sewage. We spent a lot of time talking about this report and the failures of the EA when it comes to protecting Windermere.

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Matt Staniek @savewindermere.bsky.social · 13/01/2025

The full report can be read at www.savewindermere.com/news/far-saw... Thanks to pressure from the campaign, some improvements in maintenance have been made at the site in recent years, such as increased tankering. However, these interventions remain incomplete and inconsistent.

savewindermere.com

Far Sawrey WwTW Site Review and Ecological Damage on Wilfin Beck · Save Windermere

The following report outlines the findings of our extensive investigation into Far Sawrey WwTW. Save Windermere asserts that the site is fundamentally not fit for purpose with several operational and ...

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Matt Staniek @savewindermere.bsky.social · 13/01/2025

🚨Breaking news🚨 We have released an in-depth report on Far Sawrey WWTW This report explores issues including the outdated 1989 permit, ecological harm to Wilfin Beck, and evidence of stagnation in treatment standards that have potentially remained unchanged since 1978, to name just a few.

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Matt Staniek @savewindermere.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

Week 62 of the Strike Against Sewage The snow feels like it’s been and gone very quickly here in Windermere. I cannot tell you how excited we are about a few things we have in the pipeline as we speak, so keep watching—2025 is going to be a year to remember for Save Windermere.

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Private Eye Magazine @privateeyenews.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

In the 21st century, quite a lot of classic literature has to be rewritten. And this includes, obviously, the Lake Poets, whose moving descriptions of nature have had to be updated... ➡️ Get your own Lake Poets Revisited Tea Towel: checkout.private-eye.co.uk/singleitem?i...

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WindrushWASP @windrushwasp.bsky.social · 15/12/2024

We either spectate and collaborate or we challenge and fight for our waters and to save our water industry from financial predation. WASP going with our MP Charlie Maynard to deliver the hard copy by hand to the court High Court, Strand, London 1030 Tues 17 Dec www.windrushwasp.org/single-post/...

windrushwasp.org

It's all about the money

On Tuesday 17th December WASP will deliver a hard copy of a letter to the High Court that we sent by email last Thursday 12 December. We will be accompanied by our MP Charlie Maynard of the Witney Con...

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Matt Staniek @savewindermere.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

Week 59 of the Strike Against Sewage With just a week until Christmas, the festive spirit is arriving at the strike! The standout ask today: All we want for Christmas is no poo in Windermere. I wonder if @mariahcareybrasil.bsky.social would consider a rewrite? www.savewindermere.com

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Matt Staniek @savewindermere.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

One of these photos was taken recently below Ambleside wastewater treatment works, while the other two were taken in areas with only agricultural input. Can you guess which one is from below the sewage works?

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Matt Staniek @savewindermere.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

Unlike other regions, Windermere isn’t surrounded by intensive dairy, poultry, or arable farming, which are major contributors to freshwater pollution elsewhere. While poor practices will exist, they aren’t the primary issue impacting Windermere’s water quality.

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Matt Staniek @savewindermere.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

The image above highlights algal growth caused by excessive nutrients being discharged into the river. In addition to blue-green algae, this benthic algal growth is another clear indicator of nutrient overload.

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Matt Staniek @savewindermere.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

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Matt Staniek @savewindermere.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

Yesterday, we attended an MP briefing in London alongside leading experts: Professor Peter Hammond, Professor David Hall, Professor Ewan McGaughey, and the now-infamous auditor Stanley Root. They presented on the murky business of sewage and the troubling truth about where your money really goes.

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Matt Staniek @savewindermere.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

This is just a year after they reported on cover-ups here in the North West. If you missed the episode when it aired last night, we highly recommend heading to BBC iPlayer to watch it.

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Matt Staniek @savewindermere.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

The BBC said "The made-up money makes the company appear more financially robust and helps to support its bumper payouts to shareholders." We’ve always said: if sewage is being illegally dumped into Windermere, this level of exploitation is happening nationwide.

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Matt Staniek @savewindermere.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

Yesterday was week 58 of the Strike Against Sewage Joe Crowley and BBC Panorama are back with yet another eye-opening report, this time they highlight more regulatory oversights and an accounting trick that seems to have artificially inflated Severn Trent's balance sheet by over a billion pounds. ⬇️

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Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

Severn Trent Water used accounting tricks to boost investment by £1.68bn. OFWAT uses investment to decide customer charges. Such tricks enabled company to pay higher dividends. Financial engineering rife at all water companies. OFWAT does nothing to curb it. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

Major water company uses accounting trick to inflate balance sheet by £1.68bn

A substantial Severn Trent Water investment is based on IOU notes - BBC Panorama finds.

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Matt Staniek @savewindermere.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

There’s even more exciting follow-up action related to this event, so stay tuned! We cannot thank the entire Patagonia team enough for their unwavering support, as well as Lakes Brew for providing the evening’s beverages.

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Matt Staniek @savewindermere.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

The night was fully booked, giving us an incredible opportunity to share more about our work and what we’ve managed to uncover. Jamie presented his groundbreaking research on microplastics and demonstrated how it helped expose illegal spilling in and around the Manchester area.

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Matt Staniek @savewindermere.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

A month ago, we had the immense privilege of not only taking over the Patagonia shop window (which is still there!) but also hosting a fantastic evening to talk about our campaign. Once again, we had the honour of sharing the stage with the formidable @jamie-woodward.bsky.social

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Matt Staniek @savewindermere.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

Week 57 of the Strike Against Sewage Today, we discussed plans for the Christmas period, and we can confirm that we’ll be here on the 23rd and 30th of December! For those who have time off work, please feel free to come down and join us. #protest #strike #lakedistrict #windermere

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Matt Staniek @savewindermere.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

While we were there this morning—and even now—Hawkshead Pumping Station and Grasmere Wastewater Treatment Works are discharging sewage into Esthwaite Water and Grasmere Lake. We will be back next Monday 9-10 at 8 Crescent Road, Windermere, LA23 1EA

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Matt Staniek @savewindermere.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

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Surfers Against Sewage @sascampaigns.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

🚨THIS IS A THREE-LINE WHIP 🚨 The Government is trying to pass a law that could force the public to bailout failing water companies. We need to act now, before it's too late. PLEASE SIGN AND SHARE! #BanTheBailouts www.sas.org.uk/water-qualit...

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Jenny Jones @greenjennyjones.bsky.social · 29/11/2024

Another favourite. With Matt Staniek @savewindermere.bsky.social feeling sad and distressed by the pollution of the beautiful Lake Windermere.

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Matt Staniek @savewindermere.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

Suddenly the EDM monitor is offline… coincidence ? www.savewindermere.com

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Matt Staniek @savewindermere.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

Week 56 of the Strike Against Sewage - Storm Bert and 7 million litres of sewage in Windermere? We were fortunate to have the wind without the rain this morning as Storm Bert caused disruption across the country. But there has been sewage dumping. Here’s a breakdown from one site ⬇️🧵

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Matt Staniek @savewindermere.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

Imagine if Windermere wasn’t treated like a dumping ground for untreated sewage. In Annecy, they've eliminated all sewage discharges into their lake—why can’t we do the same here? Learn more about what we're fighting for and how you can help at www.savewindermere.com

savewindermere.com

Save Windermere · Stop the Sewage

We're on a mission to Save Windermere, the jewel in the crown of the Lake District National Park. We demand an end to all United Utilities' sewage discharges into the Windermere catchment. Algal bloom...

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Matt Staniek @savewindermere.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

Based on this, if our calculations are correct, if just one pump has been operating, we estimate over 7 million litres of untreated sewage has been discharged into Windermere since 3:21 AM. If both pumps were active, it could be as high as 14 million litres. ⬇️🧵

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Matt Staniek @savewindermere.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

At 3:21 AM today, Glebe Road Pumping Station started spilling. At the time of writing, it's been over 8 hours of continuous discharge. 8 hours of discharge = 28,800 seconds. The BBC reported that there are two pumps at Glebe Road, each with a capacity of 240 litres per second. ⬇️🧵

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Matt Staniek @savewindermere.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

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Matt Staniek @savewindermere.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

The full film can be watched here: youtu.be/zPUwFOSOWdE?...

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WindrushWASP @windrushwasp.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

Young pike, perilous position. Downstream of an untreated sewage outfall that is likely to discharge soon. Hoping he or she survives undamaged.

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Matt Staniek @savewindermere.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

I’m speaking tomorrow at Basecamp around 12:45

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Matt Staniek @savewindermere.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

Let me know if you want to see some sewage

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