We explore the reasons behind the launch of this project and how it is going to help London on a vast scale.
With the population of London growing at a staggering rate each year, the current sewer system just isn’t coping and is no longer fit for purpose. This has resulted in an enormous amount of sewerage overflowing into the Thames each and every day. The London sewerage system that we use today was built in 1858 when the population of London was 2 million, and the man behind the design was Sir Joseph Bazalgette, who had predicted that his sewers could manage a population of up to 4 million. Since then, the original number has quadrupled and we now stand at a population of 8 million people. The River Thames is suffering hugely as a consequence.
The Plan
Authorities have developed a solution to this problem and believe it is going to suffice for at least another 100 years. It has taken over a decade of studying and analysing the problems to come up with the most cost-effective and timely plan of action, which has come in the form of the Thames Tideway Tunnel.
The route of the tunnel will begin in West London and follow the River Thames all the way to Limehouse. It will then divert towards Abbey Mills Pumping Station where it will connect to Lee Tunnel and transfer to Beckton Sewage Treatment Works. This huge project is said to start in 2016 and take 7 years to complete; expected costs were at £4.2 billion in 2011, but further cost predictions have not been released.
The Benefits
There are countless benefits to the new Thames Tideway Tunnel. It will improve everything from the environment and public health to reputation, ecology and the overall long-term economy of the capital. There will be thousands of jobs made available by this project, including hundreds of trade apprenticeships for London’s young people. Once complete, the UK will then meet the European environmental standards, and a cleaner, healthier river will allow marine life to thrive again.
To find out more about this incredible project for London, visit the official Thames Tideway Tunnel website.