M5X01887 Building Services Engineering Essay.

In London, one of the major problem, which faced the people in the city, was the foul smell, which was resulting from disposal of wastewater on rivers. The lack of proper sewer line was a major problem that was facing the city residents. The city of Victoria was full of smell from river Thames in London. Pollution due to improper sewerage disposal issue, which was affecting the city dwellers. Due to the unhealthy water, disease outbreak was a key issue, which was affecting these people (Collins, 2014). At the time, Sir Joseph Bazalgette a civil engineer had to come up with the solution. He was able to design one of the greatest sewer system in London at the time and which was able to solve the problem at hand. The stinking smell from Thames was become a great problem to the residents and this needed an urgent solution. In his life, Joseph Bazalgette was able to build and revamping more than 2100 kilometer of sewer system in London (Beare and Thomas, 1901) . In the early 1840, he was involved in the improvement of the sewer systems in London. On the rise of the pollution of the Thames, he came up with the modern sewer system, which is used even now in London more than 150 years down the line. In 1858, London was faced by two major problems, which needed an address. First, one of the key problem was the raw sewage, which was overflowing into the streets. The sewage disposal mechanisms were worse due to the lack of proper sewer lines in the city. The second major problem at the time was that all sewage being dispersed directly into the Thames of Central London. The river was a key source of livelihood in central London and its pollution resulted to wide spread of diseases.

The year 1858 also referred to as year of "Great Stink" made life unbearable in central London and this led to the Parliament passing a bill to authorize the chief engineer to be able to correct the sewer line problem in the city. The foul smell was able to make the operations of Parliament impossible and at times they had to adjourn the sessions. Bazalgette was the Chief engineer and he set out the works to be able to come up with the required solution to the problem. He started the work in the 1870s, which at this time was more on designs to determine the correct types of pipes to be used and other key elements of the sewer line. In the design, he was able to make the generous assumption of the adult poo-age which he multiple with the total population of the city. This was able to enhance him to know the daily pollution from the population and therefore enhance the determination of a system which could uptake all that waste. In order to be safe, he doubled the figure and this ensured that the design will be able to cater for any increase in the population within the coming years. The doubling was able to provide a four times the volume, which was produced at the time. It is assumed that had he worked with the correct figure, the sewer system would have failed and overflowed by 1960s and therefore causing the same problem which the city of London was facing at the time.

Several embankments were created in the process to ensure that the works were of high quality. In addition, in order to be able to carry all the London's sewage downstream many miles, he was able to build a parallel huge and bigger main, which was running parallel to Thames. The several embankment on the river included the Albert, which was done in 1868, Victoria that was done in 1870, and Chelsea, which was done in 1874. The system is still up to work today and the innovative work of doubling the design values was able to create a system, which is operational up to today. The operating capacity of the systems includes the Metropolitan District line, which was able to enhance the efficiency of the system.

• The problems currently experienced by the old system, and the specific reasons for these problems.

 One of the key problem, which is faced in London, is the overloading of the available sewer system. The design period of the sewer line is able to affect since the design was not more than the 150 years, which the system has served. With the increase in population, overflows during the rain seasons are experienced and this causes a major problem in the sewer system. The main reason for this problem is due to the increase of population, which has been able to lead to an increase of the sewer wastes in London. Another key reason is the aesthetic value of the project (Collins, 2014).. The need for the new sewer system in London is meant to meet the technological advancement and standards in UK and EU. The design of the sewer was done according to the standards at the time. The changes in technology are able to bring out new designs, which are different. The drainages are increasing in the city is a major problem which the old problem is facing and therefore causing a problem. The problem is due to the design requirements at the time. This is due to the requirements at the time and therefore causing the shortcomings at the current day. Overflows are experienced nearly each week in the London city and this is a big problem, which the old system is able to experience. It is estimated that 39 million tons of raw sewage are disposed off each year and this is overwhelming the old project, which was not designed to handle such capacity. The current system is able to over flow at least once every week due to the more effluent which is experienced in the city. This problem is experienced due to the system being unable to handle the increasing effluents from storm water and waste effluents in the city. The design timelines has been achieved and this has been achieved.

Due to the overflows, the lives in Thames river is endanger since the water lives is lost. This is a problem, which is able to lead to the increased effluents, which the old sewer line is unable to handle. The additional discharge from the waste water is able to threaten the extinction of these lives (Collins, 2014).. The main cause of these problem can be related to the low designs of the pipes which were meant to handle the effluents at the time of design. The increase of the population is the main cause of this problem in the town (Kanopy, 2014). The increasing population is able to lead to an increase of the wastewater in the town.

In addition, the urban laws has been able to undergo different changes since the 1880s. these changes are able to enhance new challenges and problems are able to pose the challenge to the existing sewer line (Kanopy, 2014). The change of the rules and directives have been able to lead to the various unlimited fines  which the system has been able to experience in connection with EU rules. The main reason for the fines is that the sewer line was able to comply with the rules at the time but the rules have gone some changes which they need to comply with.

• The 'Super Sewer' project

The 'Super Sewer' project in London consists of a 25 km of the Thames Tideway Tunnel, which is proposed by Thames Water. The project is meant to capture all the raw sewage and rain storm water and able to transport and convey the sewage to other locations. The project intends to enhance the current Victorian drainage system citing that the initial project will not be able to cope with the increasing drainage problem in London. The project runs from Acton Storm Tanks, which is located on the west of London all the way to Abbey Mills pumping station in the east of London. The capacity of the project is estimated to be 1.25 million cubic meters. In addition, the project aims to achieve the modern design and therefore modernize the London city. The main aim of the project is meant to act on River Thames by making it cleaner and safer. In addition, the wholes system is estimated to cost about 4,2 billion euros.

• Attitudes to the project from both the Media and Environmental groups

The project has been having different views from different people. There are those who are in support if the projects while others are against its implementation. One of the key person in support of the project is Thames Walter. According to him, this project will help to make the city clean and help to handle the excess overflow from the old system. In addition, according to him, "If the tunnel had been in operation last year, it would have captured 97% of the sewage that poured into London's river." In addition, he was able to note that "Hardly a week goes by when untreated sewage isn't pouring in to London's river and we are pleased that we can now start to tackle this archaic problem" (BBC,2014). In addition, other supporting the existence of the project includes Lord Chris Smith who is a chairman of an Environmental Agency. According to Smith, the super sewer is a necessity and not a choice. In this statement, Smith is supportive of the existence of the project and need its implementation. According to him, he was able to describe the project as “absolutely necessary” and that it would help to prevent the current “unacceptable” situation where the raw sewage spills frequently to Thames (Damien G. and Taylor, 2016). In addition, we have also media reactions where some are in support of the project. They have cited that the project will help to clean the city and enhance the availability of fresh and clean environment. According to ABC news, the project is vital for the residents around the Thames River and it will elevate their lives.

In addition, environmentalists have been against the project. For example, Christian Sarrasin, who is from the environmental group, Clean Thames Now and Always, said that much of the building work would take place around the clock, which will cause a lot of "mayhem" for people who lived near the tunneling sites. He said that "We've concreted over all the cities and that's why we've got this issue with the Thames Tunnel," he said. In addition, Southwark Council leader Peter John described it as a "ludicrous and evil decision” (Swinford, 2016). Southwark noted that there are other cheaper and better ways to handle the overflows in the city than having the project in place. Some key politians are against the project citing that the state of Thames is good and clean. They have termed the project has a burden to the London residents and waste of money. Some of the politician like Lord Berkeley of Labour Party has termed the project as uneconomical for the London city. He is noted saying "The tunnel is too expensive and won't make much difference" (Glenday, 2016) In addition, Berkeley also noted that "The river is already much cleaner than it was … and 12 million households will have to pay somewhere between 50 British pounds ($85) and 70 British pounds ($120) a year extra for the next maybe 50 years — just to pay for this tunnel which is not necessary and for which they'll get no benefit" (Andrusenko, 2015). In conclusion, the project has been able to receive different views where some of people are in support of the project while others are opposing its implementation. The different views are able to derived from the differs perspectives including the cost factors as well as the effects it has to the people. Mostly, those against the project are citing the cost effects where they are terming the project as ineffective (Andrusenko, 2015). Nevertheless, the proposers of the project are basing their argument on the frequent overflows which are being experienced on the current old sewer line. Moreover, its key to note that there is a problem which need to be solved in terms of sewage disposal in London.

• Your own thoughts on the validity

According to me, the project is key to help to solve the different problems which the city has been able to face in the past. The foul smell on different raw sewer is a key problem which the different overloaded sewers are able to face in the city. The need to have an alternative sewer line is expected. The population on London is increasing each day and this causes the overflow rate of the sewer. The new system will able to solve the diseases which are able to affect the lives of the city residents (Halliday, 2013). The key solution to the overwhelming sewer line is to have another key sewer line. In addition, the changes in technological techniques require to have a key area and system which is able to recycle the raw sewer and not only treat and dispose. This factor can be achieved through the new system design and therefore the super sewer is a key solution, which can be able to meet these kind of requirements. Therefore, I see that the project will be able to help the city citizens and therefore help to improve the health of the citizens. In addition, due to the increased overflow, it is clear that the old sewer is unable to handle the increased raw sewer from the residents. This requires to have a clear system which is able to handle the increased sewer is required. In this view, I am able to support the construction of the new supper sewer in area. The increase of the population is leading to increased raw sewer which is able to exert more pressure on the systems. The increased pressure can be therefore perfectly be handled through the new system of sewer lines.

In conclusion, the sewage disposal in London has been able to go through different phases. Nevertheless, Bazalgette was a key figure to come up with a solution to the raw sewage disposal. Its 1880s project is still in operation even today and therefore he became a legend in its civil works. The new super sewer proposal in the city if London is essential in order to reduce the much pressure which the old system is experiencing from the increased raw sewage disposal. Overflows to the rivers and especially Thames are creating a need to have this project in the heart of London. There design of the old system have been effective but with the increasing population and storm water, a new system is needed. News are able to emerge of overflows of raw sewage each week and this is able to increase the need of proper and innovative sewage system which meets the current technological advancement. Therefore regardless of the opposition, the super sewer has been approved to continued and this shows that the project is key to the people in the city. The same problems which emerged during the Bazalgette time has to be avoided earlier and this can be achieved through this project.

Q = Cd x A x [ (2/Pins) x Pins x g x (hnpl – h) x (Tins – Tout /Tins)]

Q = (room volume x air change per hour)/ 3600

Room volume = 22.5 x 8.5 x 4 =765m3

Q = (765 x 3)/3600 = 0.6375 m3/s

For Ground floor room;A         =          0.6375/0.6 [(2/1.166) 1.166 x 9.81 (10 – 1) (301 – 298/ 301)

         =  0.6375/ 0.6{(1.7153)* 1.166*9.81*9* 0.00997]

        = 0.6375/1.05932

A =  1.275 /0.6 [ (2/1.166)1.166 x 9.81 (12 – 10) (301 – 298/301)]A = 1.275 / 0.6  [ 1.716 x 1.166   x  9.81   x  2  x   0.00997 ]A =  1.275/ 0.6   [ 0.1957  x  2 ]A = 1.275 / 0.6   x   0.391A = 5.435 m2.

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