London has one hundred miles of intersecting sewers. Introduced back in the 19th century, they are incredibly intricate and were revolutionary at the time. Read on to find out more about London’s sewer system.
Building the sewers
Before the sewers were built, waste was thrown directly into the Thames River. As you can imagine, this caused a foul smell and disease was rife throughout the city. When things became so bad that parliament had to step in, an engineering genius called Sir Joseph Bazalgette was called upon. He spent years working on plans for the sewer system until Parliament finally approved them.
Future population growth
Even though the one hundred miles of sewers was a fantastic achievement for any person, future population growth was not taken into consideration. At the time, there were approximately 2 million people in London. Today, there are approximately 9 million people in London, resulting in problems arising in the sewer system.
Poor design is often why people turn to experts such as www.wilkinson-env.co.uk/sewer-repairs-drain-lining-concrete-cutting/drain-repairs/drain-repairs-wolverhampton/ for sewer pipe lining Wolverhampton.
Raw sewage enters the Thames River
Unfortunately, the sewer system has never completely eradicated the problem of raw sewage entering the Thames. You can find out more about it here:. A spillage happens in the river at least once a week, so the water is never truly clean and is often unsafe.
New solutions
The Thames Tideway Tunnel is currently under construction and could solve some of the problems that the old sewer system couldn’t. The new tunnel will be able to catch the sewage that is dumped into the Thames currently and catch rainwater discharges which commonly overflow into the river.
The proper management of sewage in London and the surrounding areas is paramount to everyone’s health. You can help to maintain sewage systems by being mindful of what you put into your own drainage systems at home. Avoid flushing nappies, sanitary products, or wipes that could end up in main sewage systems. Ask a professional how to manage your own sewage pipes well.
