River Thames - Urban Water Pollution CS Flashcards
Why does the sewage not just wash downstream, meaning that they needed to build a tunnel?
By intercepting the sewage before it enters the river, the Thames tide way tunnel will help prevent the tidal river Thames from being polluted with untreated sewage which can stay in the river for up to three months, before the rise and fall of the tide washes the sewerage out to sea and disperses it
What has happened to the quality of the water in the Thames gradually over time?
Over the last 30 years, we have seen the dramatic clean up of the river Thames, making it today an example of a recovering ecosystem which is of great ecological importance
Which chemicals were in the river and what impact would they have?
Sewage contains ammonia which is poisonous to fish and other aquatic life.
Why did the UK gov not just use low tech methods such as green roofs?
Costs too much money and more time consuming e.g. green roofs (to store rainwater) = 25 year time line, and $13 bn
E.g. modification of sewers so that they were separated (one for rainwater and one for sewage) = not practical, disruption implications, $14 bn
Why did they not just skim the surface and pick up the litter in the water?
The skimmers can only impact a small area at a time and would not have a material impact on the water quality requirements of the solution
