What’s unusual is that the outrage cuts across traditional political divides, uniting everyone from laidback surfers to retired pillars of the community living in seaside towns who worry that the beaches aren’t safe for their visiting grandchildren. Born-again wild swimmers, evangelical about the mental health benefits of cold water, are naturally up in arms. But so are lifelong environmentalists, anglers, owners of tourist businesses dependent on the sea, and people who are none of those things but see in these murky waters another sign of national decline.

Water companies will face unlimited fines for polluting rivers and the sea under government plans to protect the environment.

Thérèse Coffey, the environment secretary, will announce plans next week to scrap the £250,000 cap on civil penalties for companies.

The Times reports from Lake Windermere, England’s largest lake, where the discharge of sewage is causing detriment to water quality and wildlife.

Matt Staniek, a local zoologist, believes that pollution does. United Utilities, the local water company, has a treatment works in Ambleside on the banks of Windermere. It released a blend of raw sewage and rainwater for more than 1,700 hours in 2020 — equivalent to more than three continuous months.

A water industry chief has admitted the sector has “genuine problems” with sewage pollution that need tackling and has said it is “pointless” for water firms to blame other sectors for the state of England’s rivers.

These incisive comments from Lord Reed, aimed at United Utilities’ legal counsel, particularly stood out:

“The striking feature of your case is essentially a breach of a rule of law, that your business model is based on breaching statutory duties. That is an inevitable part of the way you carry out your business, you tell us. Not only is the court meant to tolerate this, but those who suffer loss as a result of unauthorised behaviour contrary, we are hypothesising, to a statutory duty are meant to grin and bear it.”

Sewage has been flowing into Britain’s rivers and seas once again at nearly 200 sites following the first heavy rain in two months.

Paul Whitehouse travels through the north of England, looking at the impact water companies have on its rivers.

Paul Whitehouse meets local zoologist, conservationist and campaigner Matt Staniek outside the museum to learn more about the water quality of Windermere.

AN INVESTIGATION has been launched after a video showed a large brown blob of unknown origin collecting at the outlet of Far Sawrey treatment works.

William Wordsworth described Windermere as “magnificent and beautiful” but two centuries on it is beset by a toxic soup of sewage and chemicals, with private septic tanks proving a hidden threat.

Matt Staniek, who has become a known local and national figure through his Save Windermere Campaign, does not think that Ambleside Wastewater Treatment Works (WwTWs) would be able to process the sewage coming from the proposed local occupancy and affordable homes at Loughrigg Park.