Freshwater Biological Association announces results of the February 2024 Big Windermere Survey

The Freshwater Biological Association and Lancaster University are delighted to share the results of the February 2024 Big Windermere Survey, which provides an intensive snapshot of water quality within the Leven catchment on one day, in the winter season.

Big Windermere Survey volunteers taking water samples from our Winter 2024 survey.

On the morning of Sunday 18th February 2024, between 10am - 12pm, water samples were collected by volunteers from 104 locations around Windermere, Esthwaite Water, Grasmere, Rydal Water and the streams and smaller tarns in the Leven catchment. This was the seventh survey to date and represented the winter season of the survey’s second year. You can see all locations on this map.

How are samples analysed?

Samples have been analysed for the concentration of nutrients within research laboratories at Lancaster University and bacterial analysis was completed at externally-accredited laboratories following standard protocols. To find out more about the water quality parameters that are analysed, please read our Water Quality Guide.

What do the results show?

Data from the February 2024 Survey reveal that 69% of samples collected from Windermere shoreline locations had elevated concentrations of phosphorus, sufficient to drop these sites below the standards required for Good status under the Water Framework Directive. While for river locations, 100% of water samples collected were consistent for High status.

For bacteria, 93% of samples collected from Windermere shoreline locations had low concentrations, consistent with standards from the European Union Bathing Water Directive for Excellent bathing water quality. However, 15% of river locations contained higher concentrations of E.coli or intestinal enterococci bacteria, moving these sites below the standards required for Good bathing water quality.

Want to know more?

Read our Results Summary which explains the results in more detail and the full data set is now available to view on a map via Cartographer.

Volunteer citizen scientist taking water samples in the Winter 2024 Big Windermere Survey

Many thanks to our dedicated team of citizen scientists who contributed towards the Winter 2024 Big Windermere Survey and who are helping us to gain an understanding of the water quality in the Leven catchment throughout the seasons.

Since finalising the Winter 2024 results, we have just completed our Spring 2024 survey (May 12th) and hope to share the results in due course following the lab analysis. Plans for our Summer 2024 survey are also underway, but we need financial support to run this vital citizen science project.

Help fund the Summer 2024 Big Windermere Survey.

Support our Crowdfunder campaign. We are open to individual and organisational donations. Support local citizen science and the ecological health of England’s largest natural lake.

Support the next Big Windermere Survey - Crowdfunder for Summer 2024

Check out our Big Windermere Survey page for further information.

If you would like to get involved as a volunteer or have any queries, please contact: windermere@fba.org.uk or have a look at out our FAQs.

Further reading

The Freshwater Biological Association publishes a wide range of books and offers a number of courses throughout the year. Check out our shop here.

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