Sir Joseph Bazalgette was a visionary civil engineer who played a vital role in transforming London’s sanitation system in the mid-19th century. Confronted with the severe consequences of the “Great Stink” of 1858 and repeated cholera outbreaks, Bazalgette was charged with designing a comprehensive sewer system to solve the city’s waste management crisis. His approach was both innovative and forward-looking. Recognizing the possibility of future, unexpected demands, Bazalgette chose to double the diameter of the sewer pipes from the original plan. His famous reasoning was, “Well, we’re only going to do this once and there’s always the unforeseen.” This foresight proved invaluable, as the increased capacity prevented the system from being overwhelmed by the 1960s, ensuring it remains effective even today.
Completed around 1870, Bazalgette’s sewer network comprised 82 miles of main sewers and over 1,100 miles of street sewers, which greatly improved public health and the environment in London. His design included large, brick-lined tunnels that captured sewage outflows and diverted them away from the heavily polluted River Thames. The system also featured pumping stations to keep sewage flowing smoothly. Bazalgette’s work not only addressed the immediate health crises but also laid the groundwork for modern urban sanitation. His legacy stands as a powerful reminder of the value of future planning and the profound impact that thoughtful engineering can have on public health.