Sir Joseph Bazalgette: a man of persistence and vision

Unplanned and un-sequestered waste remains an issue in many parts of the world, so it is of import to recognise the work of Sir Joseph Bazalgette who designed a system for London that has lasted well over one hundred and fifty years. The history of sewerage is best expressed by following the experience of London in which the supply of water to homes and businesses such as tanneries, slaughterhouses and brewers and the subsequent disposal of their wastes were one in the same medium. Despite the problems that the Thames and London faced, Bazalgette faced considerable opposition from those that believed that it was bad air that caused disease and thus intervention in water and sewage would not solve the problem. Bazalgette faced opposition from the liberal elite, public health reformers who took a differing position; those supporting miasma theory and even those that opposed the type of sewerage pipework and system advocated.