During the scorching summer of 1858, the unbearable stench rising from the River Thames infiltrated the grand halls of the British Parliament, causing unparalleled distress. For the Lords in the Parliament, this situation was intolerable, driving many members to escape to the countryside of England, leaving the remaining ones in a living hell.
British lawmakers, clutching handkerchiefs to their noses and nearly gasping for air, decided on a breakthrough in urban planning that would etch itself in modern history.
The foul air of the Thames, reminiscent of the occasional pungent whiffs from the Yamuna Belt today, prompted the meticulous British historians to dub the crisis of the summer of 1858 as the "Great Stink."
Source: aajtak
British lawmakers agreed - immediate action was necessary to free London from the "malicious smell" that exacerbated cholera, dysentery, and other intestinal diseases, leading to numerous deaths.
Why Did the State of the Thames Deteriorate?
Similar to the Yamuna, the River Thames, flowing through the heart of London, was a vibrant lifeline supporting trade, fishing, and daily life for centuries. However, by the 18th and 19th centuries, the Industrial Revolution turned the river into a dumping ground for industrial waste, untreated sewage, and garbage. By the Victorian era, the river had become an open sewer.
By the mid-1800s, the Thames had long been used for the disposal of human waste.
As London's population surged, doubling between 1800 and 1850, the Thames transformed into a waste island no one wanted to acknowledge.
The 'Great Stink' of 1858 was a direct result of this accumulated waste and untreated human excrement flowing into the river.
This historical event severely impacted British parliamentary proceedings.
Where Did the 'Silver Thames' Go?
The English poets who once praised the gleaming Silver Thames now lamented an "opaque yellowish-brown liquid" substance.
Renowned British author Charles Dickens once wrote (1855-57), "A dangerous sewer flowed through the heart of the city, replacing a clean and fresh water river."
The tragedy and filth in the state of the Thames rocked the British consciousness, leading to groundbreaking urban planning enforced by engineer Joseph Bazalgette.
Joseph Bazalgette's sophisticated sewer system, completed by the late 19th century, redirected sewage away from central London, temporarily alleviating the Thames' state.
Despite improvements, downstream pollution persisted, and as London's population and industries grew, pressure on the river remained.
World War II and the Devastation of the Thames
The conditions worsened with World War II (1939-1945), exacerbating pollution-stricken Thames' plight.
German bombing raids damaged portions of Bazalgette's sewer network, alongside sewage treatment plants, causing untreated sewage to once again flow into the river.
With the war, Britain's industrial activities surged, factories dumping more waste into rivers, reminiscent of current scenarios in Delhi. Post-war industrial activity soared again, threatening the Thames further.
By the 1950s, the Thames was a muddy, oxygen-starved wasteland.
The dissolved oxygen levels in the river (which supports aquatic life) plummeted to around 0.5 mg/L.
Dissolved oxygen (DO) levels depend on factors like temperature, pressure, and water quality, ideally ranging between 5-15 mg/L.
Source: aajtak
The situation in the Yamuna, with a DO often between 2-4 mg/L, highlights its threat to aquatic life. Hence, aquatic organisms are scarcely found in Yamuna.
Upstream of the Wazirabad Barrage, DO levels stand at 4-6 mg/L, yet it falls below 1 mg/L upon confluence with the Najafgarh drain.
Focusing back on the Thames, its dire conditions in 1957 led to it being declared "biologically dead."
Laws, Technological Innovations, and Infrastructure Improvements
The 1960s saw concerted efforts to rejuvenate the Thames through legislative action, innovative technology, and infrastructure enhancements.
Post-World War II, repairs and expansions to damaged sewage treatment plants proved crucial but required more comprehensive action. Initiatives like the Thames Water Authority established in 1964 intensified efforts over a decade to modernize London's sewage system.
These interventions reduced untreated sewage inputs. Furthermore, the Clean Water Act, enacted in the 1960s and 1970s, compelled factories to treat waste before Thames disposal.
Biodegradable detergents replaced harmful chemicals, easing pollution burdens.
Reoxygenating the Thames Waters
Introducing oxygenators or "bubblers" innovatively sanitized the Thames, addressing critical low oxygen levels by pumping oxygen into the waters.
By 1988, the "Thames Bubbler," followed by "Thames Vitality" in 1999, played pivotal roles in elevating dissolved oxygen levels, facilitating the river's restored aquatic life.
Policies and Privatization
Between 1961 and 1995, stringent laws raised water quality standards nationwide. In 1989, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's privatization initiative catalyzed crucial changes, including Thames Water's management transformation into a private entity overseeing the river and sewage systems.
Source: aajtak
By 1976, all sewage entering the Thames necessitated treatment, marking a significant milestone demanding the government shift from reactive to proactive strategies in combating river pollution.
Gradual but Transformational Outcomes
The gradual yet transformative changes resulted from tireless efforts. By 1967, the first fish species, a flounder, returned to the Thames. Subsequently, freshwater species like bream, pike, and trout also reappeared, along with marine species like bass and eel at the estuary. It was a testament to decades of hard-fought progress.
Wetlands Along the Thames
Stimulated by positive outcomes, initiatives created wetlands and natural habitats along the Thames, boosting biodiversity. By 1980, the river witnessed the return of salmon after 150 years.
By the late 20th century, the Thames teemed with over 125 fish species and 400 invertebrate types, such as waterborne insects, crabs, prawns, snails, octopuses, and starfish.
Recognized for its revival, the Thames was honored with the International Thiess River Prize in 2010, manifesting a global success narrative.
Paralleling the Thames, Yamuna’s revival necessitates large-scale sewage treatment initiatives, industrial controls, and community cooperation. As of February 2025, critical DO levels across Delhi accentuate systemic threats to its ecological framework.
