Blog by Alina Barmagambetova, Reagan Gonzales, Parker Kindt, Riley Walter, and Ryan Williams
This summer, we are taking part in an exciting internship abroad through the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) programme. Over the course of eight weeks in London, UK, we’re working at the International Water Association (IWA), gaining hands-on experience and learning how to apply what we’ve studied in the classroom to real-world challenges. This opportunity not only allows us to grow professionally but also lets us immerse ourselves in a culturally diverse workplace and expand our global outlook.
On 30 June, we had the unique opportunity to participate in a tour to the Crossness Pumping Station in Southeast London. Throughout our tour, we were given an extensive lesson on the history of the building, but more significantly, the beginning of improved hygiene and sanitation in London. The effects of the poor faecal waste disposal practices of 19th-century London triggered the enhancement of sewage management and the birth of modern epidemiology.
Today, having access to safe, clean, and equitable sanitation and hygiene is a fundamental human right; however, many areas of the world still do not have access to basic toilets, handwashing facilities, and safe wastewater management. As we approach the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 6: Clean Water & Sanitation, ensuring universal access is a necessity for achieving an equitable future in public health and environmental sustainability.
During the tour, we learned about the historical and societal conditions that led to The Great Stink of 1858. London reached a crisis during the heatwave and drought in the summer of 1858, which exacerbated the stench emanating from the river. As the city rapidly expanded during the Industrial Revolution, the primary use of cesspits for faecal waste disposal became inadequate for the growing population. As a result, inhabitants started dumping their faecal waste into the tributaries of the River Thames. This, combined with the disposal of industrial and agricultural waste also into the Thames, dramatically deteriorated its water quality. As cited by the British Newspaper Archive, the Aberdeen Press and Journal reported that for every 400 million gallons of fresh water flowing into the Thames daily, London contributed to 90 million gallons of sewage; just over 20% of the river was sewage. This led to a public outcry, sparking a sanitation reform movement led by Joseph Bazalgette, which proved pivotal in cleaning the Thames.
Opened in 1865, the Crossness Pumping Station was a part of Joseph Bazalgette’s visionary sewer system. Crossness housed four beam engines that pumped untreated wastewater into the Thames estuary on the ebb tide. Its structural design incorporated advanced Victorian engineering principles such as brick-vaulted tunnels, cast-iron columns, and steam engines. Over time, the station introduced upgrades to its boilers and engines, eventually transitioning to diesel pumps. Though the engine house fell into disuse by the mid-1950s, the site remains a testament to Victorian engineering principles and the history of sanitation in London. It is a poignant reminder that something as unglamorous and yet essential and significant as a sewage system can be approached with thoughtful design, care, and a profound sense of responsibility to society. That is why people often refer to it as the ‘Cathedral of Sewage’.
Visiting the Crossness Pumping Station made us recollect IWA’s Strategic Plan. It really showed us the urgency of effecting change and uniting voices to address global water issues. Learning about how past innovations have shaped public health reminded us why promoting water wisdom, facilitating collaboration, and developing todays and tomorrow’s leaders are essential. It reinforces the idea that for the world to find a sustainable way to limit water use and improve sanitation, we need to work together and develop new and innovative ideas. The tour of the pumping station allowed us to see the amount of work and effort that goes into sanitation and keeping waterways safe and how it takes just one person to make a difference.
It is sobering to think that people around the world still face similar challenges. Vulnerable populations are disproportionately affected by inadequate sanitation and limited access to clean drinking water, often due to governance failures. Visiting the Crossness Pumping Station taught us a lot about the history of Victorian water and sanitation challenges and the broader context within which these events occurred. The main standout was how people rose to those challenges with innovation, engineering, and extreme determination.
The post The Cathedral of Sewage: How London’s past is flushing us toward a cleaner future appeared first on IWA Network.