United Utilities has repurposed tanks at its Ambleside and Windermere wastewater treatment works to create an additional 2.6 million litres of storage across the two sites.

As a result of upgrades at both sites, the tanks were redundant and able to be repurposed into storm tanks after the installation of some new equipment. The additional storage will help increase the amount of storm water the sites can store and then return for full treatment, reducing the number of times the storm overflows need to operate during periods of heavy rainfall.

Given the continued focus and campaigns to reduce sewage and other pollution, should the additional storage solution have happened earlier?