Windermere Factsheet

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 scheme were those known to have a high number of private septic tanks. 

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. 

If you and/or your neighbours do not own the drainage and private system (e.g. the system and drains are council-owned or the responsibility of a third party and as a resident you have a legal agreement to contribute to the cost of maintenance and repairs) in the first instance you should contact the legal owner to advise of any concerns you have with the system. An application for first time sewerage should only be made by the legal owner to express to the water company their interest in connecting the properties to a public sewer. 

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. 

Once the community applications close, multiple teams review them carefully to see if a practical solution can be delivered. This involves: 

1. Technical assessment: Our engineers assess a wide variety of options that could be feasible for first time sewerage. This includes looking at different ways to provide sewerage services, such as connecting to existing treatment works or building new facilities. We refine these options and look at a range of detailed engineering solutions for options and consider things such as civil and electrical works that would be required for potential solutions. 
   
   
2. Cost review: Our estimating team works out the likely costs of providing the new public sewerage facilities.  
   
   
3. Value assessment: We run assessments to determine the overall value and viability of options.  
   
   
4. Planning and approvals: If a viable solution is determined we would look to progress this for delivery which would include understanding construction feasibility and consulting with organisations such as the Environment Agency and planning authorities.  

Our teams are working as quickly as possible to undertake all of the steps detailed above, however this is an extensive process. We are anticipating that decisions will be made in early 2026.  

We will update everyone who joined the community application, for each pilot area, throughout the process via email.  

• 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 £720.86, 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 £720.86, 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. 

The property owner is typically responsible for building and maintaining the pipes (known as a private drain) within their property boundary. For this pilot United Utilities will be responsible for building and maintaining the new public sewer. The length of the connection required can vary between properties.  

This is explained on the diagram below:

The cost to build a private house drain will vary per property as it depends on the layout of any current drainage pipes, local geology, the surface that needs to be removed (e.g tarmac, gravel etc) as well as the length of the drain which will need to be built to reach the new public sewer. We estimate that these costs can be anywhere in the region of £500 - £800 per metre, however these costs are indicative and cannot be guaranteed. 

Customers will be liable for annual sewerage charges as part of their water bill from the day that the connection is made. As part of this pilot scheme, we will charge you nothing for sewerage for the first 12 months following connection.  

You will pay nothing for your wastewater during the first year, however an annual standing charge will apply. Please note that our brilliant system is designed to show all services provided, even when they are free for a period. So, your bill will show the wastewater charge followed by a credit for the same amount. This ensures your account is accurate and transparent.  

Click here to see our full charges scheme.

The reason property owners are responsible for building and maintaining private drains on their property, even when connecting to a new public sewer, is based on how responsibilities are divided between individuals and water companies:  

• Water and sewerage companies are responsible for maintaining public sewers, which are usually located under public land like roads or pavements.  

• Homeowners are responsible for the private drains and pipes that lie within the boundary of their property, up to the point where they connect to the public sewer.  

When a new public sewer is installed, it becomes the homeowner’s responsibility to:  

• Construct or upgrade the private drain on their land to connect to it.  

• Ensure the drain meets building regulations and is properly maintained.  

This is because the drain serves only your property, not the wider public and it lies within your land. The cost of building and maintaining private infrastructure is considered part of property ownership. This division of responsibility is outlined by Ofwat (the water regulator) and is standard across England and Wales.  

Neighbours are welcome to discuss this option with each other to understand the best solution for them and potentially share costs. This would need to be done at the property owners’ discretion, and we encourage you to seek professional advice on the matter.  

Under normal circumstances, the customer would be liable for an admin fee relating to the connection to the new sewer. This is a one-off charge, currently £720.86.  

Under the terms of this pilot scheme, we will waiver the usual one-off admin fee for properties in the defined areas, provided the customer connects to the public sewer within six months of its construction – so this is a saving of £720.86 off the usual charges.  

This is a complex piece of work and it could take some time between design and construction. We will keep you updated regularly and timelines would be made clear when any solution is fully developed.  

There is a process for disposing of and decommissioning your septic tank safely, and this is the property owners’ responsibility. As per the Environment Agency, you must remove anything that could cause pollution (i.e. remaining sludge) when you stop using a septic tank. You can ask a reputable builder for advice on how to decommission your septic tank properly.