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The health of the River Thames in London has improved significantly in the first year of the new super sewer, according to Thames Water. The huge tunnel, built deep beneath the capital, was designed to stop sewage overflowing into the river during heavy rain, and the first year of monitoring suggests it is already making a clear difference to water quality in the heart of the city.
Before the tunnel opened, the capital's old sewer system regularly overflowed when rain was heavy, sending untreated sewage into the river. The new super sewer captures that overflow and carries it to treatment works instead, keeping it out of the Thames. Thames Water said the improvement seen in the first year was significant, with cleaner water recorded along stretches of the river that had long suffered from regular spills.
The change matters for wildlife as well as for people who use the river. The Thames is home to fish, birds and other wildlife, and cleaner water gives those species a better chance to thrive. Rowers, kayakers and swimmers who use the river have also welcomed the improvement, although experts caution that the river is not yet clean enough for everyone to swim in safely after heavy rain.
The super sewer, formally known as the Tideway tunnel, runs for 25 kilometres under London and is one of the largest engineering projects ever built in the capital. It took years to construct, with work carried out at sites along the river, and it was built to last for generations. Engineers say its full benefit will grow over time as it continues to capture overflows that would previously have gone straight into the Thames.
Thames Water said it would keep monitoring the river closely and publish further results as more data is collected. Environmental groups have said the early signs are encouraging, but they want to see the improvement sustained through wet winters, when the system faces its toughest test. For now, the first year offers a hopeful sign that one of London's most ambitious engineering projects is delivering the cleaner river it promised.
Source: NewsCubby
