For those of us who live, work and holiday in the Llanberis valley, Llyn Padarn is a significant feature in our lives. The livelihoods of many people in the area are closely linked to the well being of the lake.

Many aspects of how we live and work have a direct impact on the health of the lake. Simple changes to some aspects of how we live and work can make a big difference to Llyn Padarn.

You can love our lake by;

Switching to a phosphate-free dishwasher detergent

Phosphates in dishwasher tablets are a problem for Llyn Padarn. When phosphates enter the water they become nutrients or food for algae, the algae feast and multiply. In certain conditions this leads to toxic algal blooms threatening wildlife and preventing us all from enjoying the lake. Most dishwasher detergents contain at least 30% phosphates, the only way you can be sure that none of this ends up in Llyn Padarn is to change to a phosphate free brand.

Look out for the following phosphate free products next time you are shopping;

Ecover
19p per wash, available in Tesco, Morrisons, Waitrose
PlanetClean
12p per wash, available in Asda
W5
Lidl all in one, less than 8p per wash

If you shop online lookout for the following products;

Faith in Nature
14p per wash, available from faithinnature.co.uk
Simply
18p per wash, available from simplywashing.com

All of the above are cheaper than other leading brands!

Emptying your septic tank every 1-2 years

When did you last empty your septic tank? Monitoring has shown that leaking septic tanks are a source of phosphate inputs into the lake. All septic tanks require regular emptying if they are to function effectively.

The following contractors empty septic tanks in the Llanberis area;

Hefin Thomas Agri Contractors Ltd, Tel. 0800 092 1592

Eifion Hughes, 01286 672 816

Spread the word – Sometimes people only need a reminder, if you are having your tank emptied why not ask your neighbours if they need theirs doing and pass on your contractors details.