Thames River Regeneration Project in the U.K.

Thames River Regeneration Project in the U.K.

In the 19th century, the Thames River in London was severely polluted by untreated sewage and industrial effluent, resulting in the "Great Stink" stench incident. After the introduction of the Joseph Bazalgette-designed sewerage system, improvements were made, but in the 20th century, pollution by heavy metals and organic compounds became serious again, and since the 1950s, measures such as the construction of sewage treatment facilities, industrial effluent regulations, and the Thames Tideway Tunnel have greatly improved water quality. By 2016, more than 125 species of fish had recovered. In addition, the area has been used as a tourism resource and the Thames Barrier for urban disaster prevention has been established, making it a multifaceted success.