We have travelled a long way in how we manage our health and waste. For a long time, the relationship between hygiene and health was not made and therefore life expectancy was indeed very limited. As humans we produce waste, so wherever we settle there must be waste as a natural by-product, this means we need a sewage system to avoid the rapid spread of disease through densely populated areas.

The first period in which we made real progress was during the Tudor period. With the inclusion of diverse people and products, the creation of trade relations results in overcrowding. While this means more money and more work, it also means more waste is produced. Additional wastewater began to flow and clog the streets until Sir John Harrington created an alternative to the first flushing toilet – pot. Before this waste was thrown away into the Thames, it was a factor that was instrumental in the spread of diseases such as cholera and epidemics.

Flushing toilets, discovered in the 1590s, were a key discovery but needed time to survive, using valves that allowed waste water to flow and thus cleaned the tank and bowl. Until the 1800s the Thames was still used as open-flow open sewers. One year, during the summer, city officials were forced to take action when the city was flooded with a terrible smell from the river when it became clogged with all the municipal garbage.

This began work towards a complete sewer system to avoid such problems, Joseph Bazalgette was the chief engineer for water work in London and that was a great contribution that still exists today. This system revolutionized the way we handled our waste and brought great progress in the cleanliness of our population. Today, there are many methods to keep our drains and pipes in tip top condition. For a company that offers Drain Lining Surveys, contact https://www.wilkinson-env.co.uk/drainage-services-groundworks/

Using a low-level connecting sewer system, the Bazalgette design was used to direct waste to the processing plant closest to the Thames. To ensure the future of this design and continuous improvement, he trained young engineers for many years in this industry.

After this it was mirrored and reproduced throughout England. Now that we know that leaving waste to rot is unacceptable, we process all of our waste before being moved back to the environment.

With high population density – every year the global population grows! – it is the key to maintaining this sewer and drainage system to ensure we don’t return to the days where you can smell the disgusting smell of human waste on the streets. You can get a simple solution to keep drains and sewers connected to your home clean, for example, CCTV surveys will help assess the integrity of your waterways and offer insight into blockages.