The Metropolis

VIDEO: It's been raining, so raw sewage flows into the river Thames

Mike Pollitt | Tuesday 25 September, 2012 10:49

When it rains, as it just has, much of that rainwater gets washed into the sewage system. Too much, in fact, for the sewer pipes to hold. So the water, mixed now with raw sewage, overflows out into the rivers, the Thames or the Lee.

This video, by Pete Fry last year, shows the effect on the Thames at Chelsea. It’s disgusting. This happens 50 or 60 times a year. It doesn’t take much rain to do it.

Thames Water have a cleaned-up graphic explaining it all in their promotional material for the proposed Super Sewer.

The proposed super sewer is a good thing.

See also:

Londonist – Trips into the sewage system at Abbey Mills and the Fleet river

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