Tardis Environmental regularly has drainage jobs in London; our jet vac tankers provide drainage solutions for many construction sites and local councils, whilst our CCTV survey units make sure the pipes are in top condition and not prone to clogging. Tardis specialist HGV vacuum tankers are fully equipped for sewer cleansing and blockage clearances. We have small low volume jet vac tankers as well as large high volume and vactor tankers for larger diameter bore pipework. Our operatives are all confined space trained for chamber entry if required. We also provide 24 hour emergency call out enabling us to provide a round the clock service, which is a good thing to have in London!
This blog will look at a brief history of London sewers and what improvements are being made to them today.
Throughout the early 19th century the River Thames was an open sewer, with calamitous consequences for public health in London; suggestions to update the sewerage system were consistently made during 1856 but were ignored due to lack of funds. However, after the Great Stink of 1858, Parliament recognised the urgency of the problem and set to construct a modern sewerage system.
Joseph Bazalgette, a civil engineer and Chief Engineer of the Metropolitan Board of Works designed an extensive underground sewerage system that diverted waste to the Thames Estuary, downstream of the main centre of population. Six main interceptor sewers, totalling almost 100 miles (160 km) in length were constructed.
The original system was designed to cope with as much as 6.5 mm of rainfall within the catchment area, and supported a smaller population than todays. London’s development has consequently put more pressure on the capacity of the sewerage system with high levels of rainfall in a short period overpowering the system resulting in flooding.
Thames Water has developed three major engineering schemes to help stop sewer overflows and improve water quality in the River Thames. This includes upgrades to all five of our major sewage treatment works in London, the construction of the Lee Tunnel and the proposed Thames Tunnel. Thames water have also replaced more than 1,400 miles of old water mains, to reduce leaks and bursts and improve supplies for a growing population.
They are also investing £346m to reduce the threat of sewer flooding at 2,500 properties by 2015. This investment will focus on reducing the risk of flooding to properties which have already suffered internal flooding. A large investment programme is proposed including plans to build underground tanks to collect and store heavy rainfall, increase the capacity of our sewers, and offer flood mitigation to homes at risk.
