Chapter Chronology

Quiz for the Past Living Now: Modern Sewage Systems

Question

1. What was the root cause of London’s sewage problem in the nineteenth century?

A.
B.
C.
D.
Correct. The answer is a. Between 1825 and 1875, London’s population increased from 1.3 million to 4.2 million, overwhelming traditional approaches to waste disposal.
Incorrect. The answer is a. Between 1825 and 1875, London’s population increased from 1.3 million to 4.2 million, overwhelming traditional approaches to waste disposal.

Question

2. Which of these inventions contributed to the cholera and typhoid epidemics in nineteenth-century London?

A.
B.
C.
D.
Correct. The answer is c. Flush toilets drained directly into the Thames and caused cesspools to overflow, both of which led to the contamination of London’s drinking water.
Incorrect. The answer is c. Flush toilets drained directly into the Thames and caused cesspools to overflow, both of which led to the contamination of London’s drinking water.

Question

3. How did London city officials solve the city’s sewage crisis?

A.
B.
C.
D.
Correct. The answer is b. Led by Joseph Bazalgette, the London Metropolitan Board of Works installed a massive network of sewers that diverted waste to irrigation fields and treatment plants.
Incorrect. The answer is b. Led by Joseph Bazalgette, the London Metropolitan Board of Works installed a massive network of sewers that diverted waste to irrigation fields and treatment plants.