Vocabulary
A widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time
epidemic
What was the major cause of The Great Stink?
human waste was flowing into the Thames River
Prior to the new sewer system, how was waste from the cesspools disposed of?
The night soil men would collect it and sell it to farmers for fertilizer.
What year did The Great Stink occur?
1858
What is the name of the river that runs through London and empties into the North Sea?
Thames River
A time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger
crisis
What invention led to more waste flowing into the Thames River?
the flush toilet
What was Parliament's solution to the cholera epidemics and the overwhelming smell of the Thames River?
The mandated that a new sewer be built that could carry the waste away from the city.
What year did the sewer system officially open?
1865
Why was this time in history named The Great Stink?
The Thames River was overflowing with human waste and garbage. The summer of 1858 was very hot and combined with the waste led to a terrible stench in the city.
A highly unpleasant or unhealthy smell or vapor
miasma
What was the main purpose of the original sewer system?
to catch the rain water and connect it to the river so the city would not flood
How were the new sewers different from the original sewers?
The new sewers ran alongside the river rather than flowing into it.
What year did the final cholera epidemic strike London?
1866
In what city and country did The Great Stink take place?
London, England
The water and human wastes that are washed down sinks, toilets, and showers
sewage
How did people get rid of waste before they connected to the sewer system??
waste would be collected in a cesspool and the night soil man would sell it to the farmers for fertilizer
How did the new sewer system change the health of the people of London?
Their drinking water was now clean and they no longer needed to drink polluted water.
How many people died due to the cholera epidemics?
more than 30,000
What did having a flush toilet in the 1850s tell people about you?
It was a sign of wealth.
A substance that provides nutrients to help crops grow better
fertilizer
How did the number of farmers moving to the city impact the need for fertilizer?
Fewer farmers needed fertilizer which led to a lot being left over. More waste began to get dumped into the river.
In addition to the new sewer system, what system was put in place to clean the water so it could be used again?
treatment plants
If it were to be built today, what would the approximate cost of London's sewer system be?
$6 billion
This is a sticky blob full of oil, grease, and other items that are flushed down sewers. These blobs can cause blockages and backups.
fatberg