When did the Thames stop smelling?
When did the Thames stop smelling? With the government in the summer of 1858 greenlighting affirmative action, engineering genius Sir Joseph Bazalgette could start work on his ambitious new drainage system for London. It began in earnest in 1859, was finished in 1875, and by 1887, the dumping of sewage into the Thames had stopped completely.
How did London get rid of the Great Stink?
The government's response during the early days of the stink was to douse the curtains of the Houses of Parliament in chloride of lime, before embarking on a final desperate measure to cure lousy old Father Thames by pouring chalk lime, chloride of lime and carbolic acid directly into the water.
Is the Thames still polluted?
Despite the stubborn perception that the river is dirty and lifeless, this is no longer the case. The Thames is currently one of the cleanest city waterways in the world.
What is the least polluted river in the UK?
In a people-powered study of pollutant levels in UK freshwater sites, the River Dart was the only one, out of 48, to pass all five parameters. The river runs 75km from Dartmoor and into the sea at Dartmouth.