Sam Dunkley is right that the mixing of clean and dirty water in Joseph Bazalgette’s sewers gives us a problem today (Letters, April 24). But in defence of my great great-grandfather, the infrastructure he designed and built served London well for 150 years, enabling the UK capital to grow to be one of the world’s great cities. That is, delivering health and wealth. It’s only recent climate change that has brought heavy downpours rather than gentle rain. This does overwhelm his system.
But the Thames Tideway tunnel, going into commission shortly, will obviate more than 90 per cent of the resultant overflows into the Thames.
Let’s not blame Joseph Bazalgette for the sins of the 21st century.
Sir Peter Bazalgette
London W2, UK
