Mothers of two children who became seriously ill after exposure to water in Lake Windermere are urging the Prime Minister to intervene and prevent water companies from discharging sewage into rivers and lakes.
Samantha Southwell, mother of three-year-old Iris Vanderstock, and Claire Earley, mother of eight-year-old Rex, have spoken out following their children's infections with E.coli and campylobacter. Iris became sick after paddling in the lake earlier this summer, while Rex suffered temporary kidney damage and required hospitalization for six weeks after contracting E.coli last August following a kayaking trip.
"Profit shouldn't be more important than the welfare of the public," Ms. Southwell stated. "New regulations and laws need to be put in place to prevent things like this happening."
The mothers' plea comes as pressure mounts on local officials regarding sewage pollution. A petition demanding an end to the "sewage pollution scandal" has garnered nearly 350,000 signatures. Despite awareness campaigns about the risks of unclean water, families continue to visit popular tourist areas like Lake Windermere.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has previously expressed anger over the state of the nation's waterways, stating, "households have been asked to pay more for years, yet serious pollution incidents are at record levels and the pipes are still leaking."
United Utilities, the local water company, acknowledged the complexity of the situation, citing factors such as over 2,000 private septic tanks, agricultural runoff, and wildlife droppings. The company stated that storm drains, which can discharge sewage, had not been operating in the specific areas where Iris and Rex fell ill for significant periods preceding their illnesses.
Ms. Southwell recounted that Iris developed severe sickness, diarrhea, and a high temperature two days after paddling in Windermere. A GP diagnosed a campylobacter infection, likely from contamination in the lake's water. She noted that her GP had also experienced illness after participating in a water sports event at the lake two years prior.
Mrs. Earley described how her son, Rex, began suffering stomach cramps after a kayaking excursion. Initially diagnosed with gastritis, Rex was later transferred to Leeds General Infirmary, where he underwent an operation, dialysis, and multiple blood transfusions. He experienced a collapsed lung due to pancreatic damage caused by the infection, resulting in a total of six weeks in the hospital.
"The link between Rex’s condition and the E.coli in the water was made when medical staff asked where we’d been," Mrs. Earley explained. "We said, only to Windermere, and they nodded and said, that’s the link."
Save Windermere, a campaign group, has garnered support from public figures including Feargal Sharkey, Steve Coogan, Lee Mack, and Paul Whitehouse. Matt Staniek of the group invited the Prime Minister to visit Windermere to meet with campaign members and those affected by poor water quality.
United Utilities stated it is investing £200 million in Windermere to improve water quality and reduce discharges from storm overflows. The company reported a 21% reduction in storm overflow spills in the last year and aims to meet government targets 20 years early by 2030. Additionally, they are exploring a novel solution to divert all wastewater and highway runoff away from the lake to ensure only rainwater enters it.