The Great Stink of 1858: How London’s Sewage Crisis Sparked Sanitation Reforms

In the summer of 1858, the stench from the River Thames, filled with untreated sewage, overwhelmed London. The Great Stink forced the closure of Parliament and highlighted the city’s dire sanitation problems. The crisis prompted the construction of a modern sewer system designed by engineer Joseph Bazalgette.

The Great Stink led to significant public health reforms, improving water quality and reducing disease. It remains a pivotal moment in the history of urban sanitation and public health.