In 1858 the Great Stink wreaked havoc across central London when a combination of hot weather, untreated human waste and industrial effluent combined to cause a stench so pungent it prompted authorities to take action. For years, sewage had been emptied directly into the River Thames causing the transmission of many contagious diseases and outbreaks of cholera. Infrastructure of London's sewer system had to drastically change. The civil engineer, Joseph Bazalgette, put forward his proposal and became responsible for creating a series of interconnecting sewers and pumping stations that are still in use today.
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