In the summer of 1858, London was overwhelmed by a horrific stench emanating from the River Thames, which had become a vast, polluted cesspool. The unbearable odour disrupted daily life, with Parliament nearly relocated due to the health risks. The crisis, known as the Great Stink, spurred action, leading to the construction of a modern sewage system designed by Sir Joseph Bazalgette. This monumental project, initiated to address the sanitation emergency, marked a turning point in public health and urban infrastructure. The episode highlights how this historical event reshaped London's approach to waste management and sanitation.

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Sources:

http://www.choleraandthethames.co.uk/cholera-in-london/the-great-stink/ https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/archive/collections/photographs/the-great-stink/ https://www.history.co.uk/articles/the-great-stink-londons-unbearable-summer-of-1858