Isherwood Column: Great engineering projects two
By Justin Isherwood
The London sewer system is currently being accessorized, engineers would say super-sized, to fit a consumer society that showers often and flushes more often. The Thames remains a toxic river because combined sewer overflows occur on an average of once a week. The Thames tidewater project will come on line in 2023,
currently being drilled under the heart of London with a main sewer 7.2 meters wide. Treatment will eliminate 94% of the solids/nitrates currently entering the Thames. Construction will use 840,000 tons of concrete, once again cementing into place the London sewer as the world’s greatest engineering project.
It ought not insult us that the greatest of the world’s engineering accomplishments involves sewage. Here is that renowned question of sustainability, what to do with our poo, and a human waste stream still using water, too much water, yet to include the state of science sufficient to turning waste water into potable water. Stone Brewing in California USA is alone in using recycled sewer water, New Belgium of Asheville, NC, is working on it, to date no major brewer has. That engineering project still awaits the ultimate sewer system, with no outlet pipe.