Windermere

ITV1 and Channel 4 reported that a large underground sewage tunnel has been proposed to reduce sewage pollution in Windermere, England's largest lake. Both said United Utilities and environmental campaigners are backing the proposal, and both put the cost at about £3.6 billion. ITV1 reported the tunnel would be four metres wide and 12 miles long, connecting 12,800 homes to a single sewerage network; Channel 4 reported it would be at least 10 miles long and four metres across. Channel 4 reported that a feasibility study published that day set out two options: £3.6 billion to route sewage to the River Leven around Newby Bridge, or £3.7 billion to go further south to Ulverston. It said funding across England would add just over 30p a month per household, while funding only by United Utilities customers in the northwest could add over £3 a month depending on the option. ITV1 reported the scheme would take seven years to build if it received government approval, and both channels said questions remain over who pays. Both channels reported pollution and cost concerns. ITV1 said heavy rain can cause sewage storage tanks to overflow and raw sewage to be pumped into the lake, and that campaigners welcomed the plan. Channel 4 reported toxic algal blooms linked to phosphates in sewage, said there was evidence people were getting ill from the water, and interviewed the United Utilities chief executive about costs and criticism. Channel 4 reported the project is not yet approved and that the government wants more work and alternatives tested.

Key Claims by Channel

Claim
Reported by all 2 channels
A proposal for a large underground tunnel aims to reduce sewage pollution in Windermere, England's largest lake.	Reported by Channel 4	Reported by ITV
United Utilities, environmental campaigners and other major stakeholders support the proposed tunnel.	Reported by Channel 4	Reported by ITV
The proposed tunnel is estimated to cost about £3.6 billion.	Reported by Channel 4	Reported by ITV
The tunnel would be about four metres wide.	Reported by Channel 4	Reported by ITV
The tunnel would be between about 10 and 12 miles long.	Reported by Channel 4	Reported by ITV
If built, the tunnel would mean rainwater is the only water entering the lake, with everything else kept out.	Reported by Channel 4	Reported by ITV
Only on one channel
The tunnel would connect 12,800 homes to a single sewerage network.	Not reported by Channel 4	Reported by ITV
If approved, the scheme would take seven years to build.	Not reported by Channel 4	Reported by ITV
A feasibility study set out two routes: one to the River Leven near Newby Bridge costing about £3.6 billion, and another to Ulverston costing about £3.7 billion.	Reported by Channel 4	Not reported by ITV
Bills would rise by just over 30p a month under England-wide funding, or over £3 a month under a United Utilities-only model in the northwest, depending on the option.	Reported by Channel 4	Not reported by ITV
The project has not yet been approved, and the government wants more work and alternatives tested.	Reported by Channel 4	Not reported by ITV
Heavy rain can cause sewage storage tanks to overflow and raw sewage to be pumped into the lake through pipes.	Not reported by Channel 4	Reported by ITV
United Utilities was described as largely responsible for the pollution problem.	Not reported by Channel 4	Reported by ITV
Windermere has experienced toxic algal blooms fuelled by phosphates in sewage.	Reported by Channel 4	Not reported by ITV
There was evidence that people were becoming ill from the water.	Reported by Channel 4	Not reported by ITV
The United Utilities chief executive said infrastructure is paid for through bills or taxation, customer bills are insufficient, and shareholders invest for a return.	Reported by Channel 4	Not reported by ITV
The United Utilities chief executive rejected Andy Burnham's claim that shareholders always win and bill payers always lose, citing £800 million of shareholder investment in March and over £13.5 billion invested in the North West supporting 30,000 jobs.	Reported by Channel 4	Not reported by ITV
Campaigners had long called for the proposal, which had previously been seen as too difficult and expensive.	Reported by Channel 4	Not reported by ITV
Sewage would be treated at a wastewater centre in Leaven or Ulverston before discharge in or near the Irish Sea.	Not reported by Channel 4	Reported by ITV

This is a cross-channel consensus summary, not an objective account. Consensus can be uniformly wrong, or omit what only one channel covered.