Brian Barton
The River Thames in London was once declared biologically dead due to high levels of human and industrial waste. However, in recent years, it has been making a recovery, with oxygen levels rising and dangerous phosphorus levels decreasing. Despite this, the Thames still faces threats from pollution, plastic, and sewage overflow caused by London's outdated sewage system. Climate change is also impacting water temperature and sea levels, which will undoubtedly affect the estuary's wildlife. To address the issue of sewage, London is constructing the Thames Tideway Tunnel, a super sewer that will capture and store raw sewage, with completion expected by 2025. While the river's health is improving, it continues to face challenges from various sources of pollution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Pollution compared to 50 years ago | Less polluted |
| Pollution compared to 10 years ago | More polluted |
| Wildlife | Sustains an awful lot of wildlife, including two types of seals and migratory wading birds |
| Drinking water safety | Drinking untreated Thames river water is unsafe |
| Sewage | Raw sewage is pumped into the river |
| Oxygen levels | Up |
| Phosphorus levels | Down |
| Microplastics | High levels |
| Turbidity | High |
| Thermal pollution | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
London's sewage system
Bazalgette's design included four major pumping stations to lift sewage from low-lying sewers for discharge eastward. The enclosed design captured sewage and rainwater, helping to eliminate cholera. The system was planned to accommodate a 50% increase in population, but London's population has since far exceeded those estimates. The sewage network's capacity is now strained, and during storms, excess sewage often overflows into the Tidal Thames, posing a major threat to water quality.
The impact of sewage overflows on the Thames is severe. Millions of tons of raw sewage spill into the river each year, especially after extreme weather events. This pollution has detrimental effects on the river's ecosystem, threatening the health of wildlife and the resilience of natural habitats. Climate change further exacerbates the issue, with more frequent and intense rainfall overwhelming the system.
To address these challenges, London is constructing the Thames Tideway Tunnel, also known as the "super sewer." This 25-kilometre tunnel will run under London from Acton in the west to Beckton in the east. It is designed to capture over 95% of sewage spills from the Victorian sewer system, significantly improving water quality. The project is expected to have a positive impact on the river's ecosystem, allowing wildlife to survive and flourish.
In addition to the Thames Tideway Tunnel, other efforts are being made to restore the Thames. The Zoological Society of London is partnering with conservationists to replant native seagrasses and introduce species like oysters, which help restore wildlife and provide natural flood defences. These initiatives aim to create a resilient future for both people and wildlife, protecting natural habitats and mitigating the impacts of extreme weather events.
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Climate change
The River Thames in London has been subjected to severe pollution over the years, with the river once being declared "biologically dead" in the 1950s. While the Thames has been making a recovery, climate change remains a significant issue impacting the river.
The river's sewage system, largely built in the 1800s, is unable to handle London's current population, resulting in excess sewage overflowing into the Tidal Thames during storms. This sewage pollution not only affects wildlife but also contributes to the river's high levels of dangerous contaminants, including heavy metals and microplastics. These contaminants can have detrimental effects on aquatic life and persist in the environment, harming or killing organisms that consume them.
Furthermore, climate change and sewage continue to threaten the river's health, with sewage treatment plants unable to filter out water-soluble medicines like Metformin. The impact of these drugs on aquatic life is unknown, adding another layer of complexity to the issue. While London is working on the Thames Tideway Tunnel to address sewage overflow, climate change remains a pressing concern that requires urgent action to protect and restore the Thames's fragile ecosystem.
Overall, climate change is a critical factor in the pollution of the Thames in London, exacerbating existing issues and creating new challenges for the river's health and wildlife. Addressing climate change and its impacts on the Thames is essential for the long-term sustainability and biodiversity of this iconic waterway.
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Water quality
The water quality of the Thames has been an issue for London for centuries. In 1858, the "Great Stink" saw high levels of human and industrial waste in the river that drove people out of London. Since then, there have been over a century's worth of improvements to the sewage network, including upgrading sewage treatment works and installing household toilets. However, the sewage system is still largely the same as it was in the 1800s, and storms can cause excess sewage to overflow into the Thames.
The River Thames was declared "biologically dead" in the 1950s, with no fish recorded from Kew to Gravesend. Since then, the river has seen a remarkable recovery, and it is now considered one of the world's cleanest rivers running through a city. This is due to a combination of efforts, including the treatment of all sewage entering the Thames since 1976 and legislation between 1961 and 1995 that helped raise water quality standards. The establishment of the National Rivers Authority in 1989 and the introduction of biotic monitoring have also played a role in improving water quality.
However, despite these improvements, there are still concerns about water pollution in the Thames. A research paper published in 2020 indicated high levels of microplastics in samples of Thames water taken in 2017. Microplastics can have detrimental effects on aquatic life, as well as turtles and birds. Heavy metals in the riverbed can also harm or kill organisms that consume them, and water-soluble medicines that sewage treatment works cannot filter out may be impacting aquatic life. Climate change is also a wildcard, with rising water temperatures and sea levels impacting the estuary's wildlife.
To address these issues, London is working on the Thames Tideway Tunnel, also known as the "super sewer." This project, due for completion in 2025, will collect and store raw sewage, preventing it from overflowing into the river. It is expected to capture over 95% of sewage spills and significantly improve water quality, creating a healthier environment for wildlife to survive and flourish.
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Plastic pollution
The Thames River Watch citizen science programme, launched in 2014, trains Londoners to monitor plastic pollution and identify the most common plastic items. This helps to understand the sources of pollution and identify solutions. The programme's 2020 report, *Plastic Pollution in the Tidal Thames*, found that over the past 20 years, there has been a significant decrease in large immobile waste items (such as tyres, metal, and bicycles) due to the substantial Thames21 volunteer effort to clean up the river. However, there has been an increase in plastic consumer items and packaging in the river. Plastic wet wipe products are the most common item recorded on the tidal Thames foreshore in London, and these products are physically changing the shape and sediment type of the foreshore across six sites.
To combat this issue, Thames21 suggests eliminating polystyrene packaging and moving to recyclable plastic with a comprehensive recycling system. They also recommend improving labelling on wet wipe and sanitary products to highlight that they should not be flushed. They suggest that companies should innovate to reduce food wrapper packaging, which is particularly prone to breaking into microplastics, and make more of it recyclable. Thames21 also encourages the public to download the Refill app to find locations to refill water bottles rather than buying water in single-use plastic bottles.
The London Society is also working to rid the River Thames of plastic pollution by educating young people about sustainability and creating environmental ambassadors for the future. The GreenSeas Trust gives talks and workshops at schools, and their BinForGreenSeas bins are a cost-effective way of educating people visually.
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Population growth
The civil engineer Sir Joseph Bazalgette was commissioned to build a sewage network to address this issue, which is still in use today. However, as the population continued to grow, the sewage system became overwhelmed. London's sewage system was built in the 1800s when the city's population was a fraction of what it is today, and it has struggled to keep up with the increasing demands placed upon it.
The growing population has also led to an increase in waste entering the Thames when the sewage system reaches capacity. This has resulted in the discharge of untreated sewage into the river, causing oxygen depletion and harming aquatic life. The expansion of sewage treatment plants in the 1960s helped to improve water quality to some extent, but the river continues to face challenges due to population growth and increasing waste production.
Today, London's sewage system is stretched to its limit by the modern-day population, and discussions about building a new sewage system have been ongoing. The Thames Tideway Tunnel, also known as the "super sewer," is currently under construction and aims to capture sewage from overflow points, treating and redirecting it to existing treatment plants. This project is expected to be completed by 2025 and will help address the issue of sewage overflow into the Thames.
While population growth has been a significant contributor to the pollution of the Thames, other factors have also played a role. Industrial growth, the development of sewage systems, and the adoption of flushing toilets have all increased the amount of waste entering the river. Additionally, climate change and microplastics have emerged as new threats to the river's health.
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Frequently asked questions
The Thames in London was once declared "biologically dead" due to the high levels of human and industrial waste. However, it has been coming back to life in recent years. While it is now considered one of the cleanest rivers running through a major city, it still faces threats from pollution, plastic, sewage, and a rising population.
The Thames is now home to a diverse range of wildlife, including two types of seals and migratory wading birds like the avocet. However, the situation for fish seems to be deteriorating, possibly due to long-term increases in nitrate concentrations and climate change.
London is currently working on the Thames Tideway Tunnel, also known as the "super sewer" project, which will collect and store raw sewage to prevent it from overflowing into the river. The city is also partnering with conservationists to restore parts of the river with native seagrasses and wildlife.
