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Windermere Factsheet

We are conducting a pilot scheme to identify the need and appetite for connecting properties, which currently manage their own wastewater, for example through septic tanks or packaged treatment plans, to the public sewerage network in three areas around Windermere.

These areas are:

Click the links above to see the boundaries for this pilot scheme. You can also check whether your property is in the pilot area via our postcode checker below.

Check if you are eligible for the Windermere Catchment Pilot Scheme

Enter your postcode to see if your premises is within our pilot scheme boundaries.

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You can register your interest in applying for a connection to a public sewer via the link below. 

Register your interest

Owners or occupiers of existing premises can apply to United Utilities to provide a connection to a public sewer, known as ‘first time sewerage’, if the following criteria are met:

  • The application is for a premises already in existence and which uses a private wastewater system (such as a septic tank, for example) and on which there are buildings used for living accommodation
  • The drains or sewers used for domestic sewerage purposes (such as toilet flushing) do not currently, either directly or through an intermediate drain or sewer, connect with a public sewer
  • The effect of the private wastewater system being used is causing, or likely to cause, an adverse effect to the local environment, such as a local watercourse
  • The environment or amenity problem cannot be more appropriately resolved by improved maintenance or operation of the existing systems

If you think these criteria may apply to your drainage system and your premises is within the pilot scheme area, please complete the expression of interest form by Friday 16th May 2025.

At this stage, we are gathering interest and if there is sufficient interest from the communities in the pilot areas, and the relevant criteria is met to progress to the next stage then we will contact you again to help with next steps and completing a formal application for first time sewerage.

If you have any questions, please email us at fts@uuplc.co.uk and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

 Frequently asked questions

  • Windermere is an iconic waterbody and United Utilities is working in partnership with other organisations to help protect its water quality well into the future. We’re investing £200m over the next five years which will not only improve treatment standards at nine of our wastewater treatment works across the Windermere catchment but also significantly reduce spills from the six storm overflows. Alongside the water company assets, there are around 89 businesses and more than 1,800 private septic tanks which drain into the lake and can ultimately influence its water quality and the amount of nutrients in the water. We are therefore working to increase awareness of the first time sewerage process, understand community appetite for public sewer provision and whether there are any barriers within the existing process which might restrict applications or take-up.

    The areas chosen for the pilot are those where there known to have a high number of private septic tanks and may have available efficient solutions to connect to an existing treatment works. 

  • Domestic dwellings designed or occupied as living accommodation, but not sheds, garages, stables or other outbuildings.

    For industrial/commercial buildings (shops, factories, public houses, hotels etc.) it would only be any domestic wastewater from activities such as from flushing toilets, kitchens and washing etc. Other commercial activities may need a separate trade consent.

  • This could be something which will impact the water quality of the local watercourse for example if it drains into somewhere or cause issues such as smells, nuisance or public health issues.

  • We will collate all expressions of interest from within the pilot scheme areas and undertake an initial screening exercise to understand whether they meet the eligibility criteria.

    If these conditions are met, we will contact residents again to discuss a community-scale application and progress to a detailed engineering technical assessment to determine the options, costs and benefits in line with government guidelines. As part of this assessment, we will visit the wider area to look at the current drainage arrangements and gain information of the type of systems and maintenance regimes. We will also liaise with the Environment Agency and Local Authority.

    When assessing, we will need to consider whether the problem with the sewerage system could be rectified more cost-effectively by repair or proper maintenance of the existing systems. We will only be responsible for providing a public sewer if our assessment confirms the existing drainage is giving or is likely to give rise to adverse effects to the environment or amenity and identifies that a public sewer is the most cost effective and practical way to provide satisfactory drainage.

    • Tuesday 1st April - Expression of interest window opens
    • Tuesday 22nd April - Drop in event at the Windermere Information Centre 
    • Wednesday 16th May - Expression of interest window closes
    • Monday 19th May - Assessment of expression of interest and technical assessment begins (subject to interest)
    • Wednesday 16th July - Technical assessment complete
    • Thursday 31st July - Subject to interest and technical assessment, community event and outline of potential schemes

  • Once we have conducted the assessment and know all the options, we will write to everyone who has expressed interest. We will also be holding a community event that you can attend and ask any questions you may have.

    • United Utilities will cover the cost of construction of the public sewer.
    • Under normal circumstances, the customer would be liable for the cost of connection from their premises to the new sewer, a one-off charge, currently £442, plus then be liable going forward for annual sewerage charges as part of their water bill.
    • Under the terms of the pilot, we can offer reduced charges. This means provided the customer commits to connecting to the public sewer within six months following its construction, the usual one-off infrastructure  charge, currently £442, will not be charged. In addition, we will charge you nothing for sewerage for the first 12 months following connection.

    Customers would still need to pay for:

    • The cost of laying a pipe (house drain) from your premises to the new sewer
    • Obtaining building regulations approval from the local authority for the above work
    • The cost and arrangements for emptying and making safe the old private drainage system, which may include rearrangement of internal and external drainage systems

  • It is in the interests of each householder to connect to the public sewer if it is provided as the potential environmental or amenity benefits will be better achieved if all properties do connect.

  • If you consider that your drainage system may meet the criteria above, you can still be considered for first time sewerage, under the usual process. Please fill in our First Time Sewerage Application form.  Before you apply, have a chat with your neighbours to see if they would support your application. A new sewer is often only practical and affordable if a number of households are involved.