Samples from Windermere, and rivers and lakes in its catchment, revealed higher levels of phosphorus in August compared to 2022.That is according to results of the fifth Big Windermere Survey, a citizen science project led by the University of Lancaster and the Freshwater Biological Association.
Although, the remaining third of sites contained higher concentrations of E.coli or intestinal enterococci bacteria.Dr Lynsey Harper, Windermere Senior Scientist at the Freshwater Biological Association, said: "Concentrations of bacteria are obviously important to those using the lake for recreation, particularly for swimming.
At the same time, heavy rainfall within Windermere's catchment leading up to the Survey meant that river and stream discharge, which is the volume of water moving every second, was at the highest level seen across any of the five Big Windermere Surveys to date.Dr Ben Surridge, Senior Lecturer at Lancaster University, said: "The Survey is not designed to pinpoint individual pollution sources.
Evidence from the Surveys is being used to inform more detailed investigations and management actions that seek to improve water quality in Windermere.