You may have seen on ITV News last night that once again, we are having to fill the gap left by inadequate regulation. Last year, we raised the alarm after multiple dead toads were discovered at the treated outfall of the Langdale Wastewater Treatment Works. Deeply concerned, we launched a water monitoring programme, with sampling led by Ambleside Action for a Future (AAFAF).

Despite our warnings, we’ve seen insufficient action from both the water company and the regulator. Now, we are once again sounding the alarm over a serious pollution risk.

Since 5 March, our testing has revealed:

• 70% of samples have exceeded 10 mg/L of ammoniacal nitrogen
• 30% have exceeded 20 mg/L

To put this in context: under the right climatic conditions, low flow, high temperatures, and rising pH from, say, an algal bloom, concentrations as low as 7–8 mg/L in effluent can cause toxic ammonia levels in rivers, triggering fish kills.

You can read the full story and what we’re calling for here:

https://www.savewindermere.com/blog/langdale-ammonia-samples