A 3.6 billion pound tunnel is proposed to clean up Windermere

A 3.6 billion pound proposal to stop sewage discharges into Windermere has been unveiled, BBC News reported. Windermere is the largest lake in England. The project aims to eliminate sewage spills that have been blamed for turning the water of the lake green. [1]

According to BBC News, the plan is supported by the local water firm United Utilities as well as clean water campaigners. The project would involve building a tunnel up to 12 miles long, or 19 kilometres, to transport sewage away from the lake. Raw sewage and treated effluent are both currently discharged into Windermere. [1]

Campaigners say that current sewage discharges cause parts of Windermere to turn green every summer in a process known as algal blooming, BBC News reported. Windermere is located in the Lake District, which is a Unesco World Heritage site and attracts nearly 18 million visitors. [1]

Prehistoric human activity around Windermere dates back to the Mesolithic period, with hunter-gatherer groups using the woodland and lakeside resources. In later eras, Neolithic stone axes were quarried in the nearby Langdale area, and Bronze Age communities established small-scale farming in the surrounding region. [5]

BBC News reported that it is now up to the government to decide whether the proposal can be developed further. Government officials must also determine if the 3.6 billion pound price tag is acceptable. [1]