"Built in the 1860s by the engineer Joseph Bazalgette, Abbey Mills Pumping Station, at Stratford East, produces half the city’s total sewage overflow. It can discharge a million and a half cubic metres of waste into the Thames in a day.
"At low tide the creek in front of it looks like a vast mudflat: a glistening brown sludge full of compacted human detritus. A sign on the railings overlooking it reads “Olympic Walk”. The only visitors are tramps, under-age smokers and consultants involved with Olympic projects."
To be honest, I smell (ahem) an attempt by the Environment agency to put pressure on the Government review by using the "Olympics need it" case. After all what's being discussed is:
"The preferred option — a 22-mile (35 km) — tunnel to intercept discharges from numerous overflows throughout London — would cost up to £2 billion and take 15 years to build."This scale of engineering works is staggering. It underlines the achievment of the early city engineers.