Britain's Water and Sewage Crisis: From Victorian Era to Modern Challenges

Explore a comprehensive lecture examining Britain's historical and contemporary water and sewage management challenges, from the infamous 'Great Stink' of 1858 to present-day concerns about raw sewage discharge and water company financial struggles. Learn about the evolution of urban water management, including Bazalgette's revolutionary sewer system, the rise of public utility ownership in the late nineteenth century through 'gas and water socialism,' and the subsequent privatization in the twentieth century. Delve into critical discussions about Victorian water management practices, river pollution regulation, and the ongoing debate between public versus private water supply systems. Understand the current crisis facing British water infrastructure and evaluate potential solutions while considering whether the Victorian approach to water management might offer valuable lessons for today's challenges. Delivered by Professor Martin Daunton, an eminent economic historian and former Master of Trinity Hall, Cambridge, this 58-minute lecture provides essential insights into one of Britain's most pressing environmental and infrastructure challenges.