Why was the river polluted so badly?
The Victorian era was a time of growing population and development. Many people came to London in order to seek work and profit from the Industrial Revolution.
Before that London's river Thames contained more or less clean water. But when the population doubled to almost 2 million in 1841, the overpopulation was developing to a serious problem. People were not educated in terms of (personal) hygiene, dangerous illnesses and sanitation. The river thus was contaminated with human and animal waste. The invention of the water closet or flushing toilet added to the growing amount of sewage.
More and more wastewater was directly led into the Thames and its tributaries since there was no means of safe sewage disposal. The existing sewers and drains were intended to carry away only rainwater. People were also throwing their waste onto the streets contaminating wells. Along the banks a growing number of factories such as slaughterhouses and tanneries contributed to the dramatic situation of the Thames.
Before that London's river Thames contained more or less clean water. But when the population doubled to almost 2 million in 1841, the overpopulation was developing to a serious problem. People were not educated in terms of (personal) hygiene, dangerous illnesses and sanitation. The river thus was contaminated with human and animal waste. The invention of the water closet or flushing toilet added to the growing amount of sewage.
More and more wastewater was directly led into the Thames and its tributaries since there was no means of safe sewage disposal. The existing sewers and drains were intended to carry away only rainwater. People were also throwing their waste onto the streets contaminating wells. Along the banks a growing number of factories such as slaughterhouses and tanneries contributed to the dramatic situation of the Thames.