An underground guide to sewers, or, Down, through & out in Paris, London, New York, &c

Stephen Halliday

Book - 2019

"Lose yourself in the vast sewer networks that lie beneath the world's great cities - past and present. Let detailed archival plans, maps and photographs guide you through these subterranean labyrinths - previously accessible only to their builders, engineers and, perhaps, the odd rogue explorer. This execrable exploration traces the evolution of waste management from the ingenious infrastructures of the ancient world to the seeping cesspits and festering open sewers of the medieval period. It investigates and celebrates the work of the civil engineers whose pioneering integrated sewer systems brought to a close the devastating cholera epidemics of the mid-19th century and continue to serve a vastly increased population today. And... let's not forget those giant fatbergs clogging our underground arteries, or the storm-surge superstructures of tomorrow."--Cover.

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Subjects
Genres
Illustrated works
Informational works
Published
Cambridge, Massachusetts : The MIT Press [2019]
Language
English
Main Author
Stephen Halliday (author)
Physical Description
255 pages : illustrations (some color) ; 25 cm
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (page 252) and index.
ISBN
9780262043342
  • Pioneers of plumbing. Sanitation in the ancient world ; Sewage in the streets
  • Subterranean infrastructures. The cleansing of Paris ; London & the great stink ; Worldwide adaptations ; Raising streets
  • Revolutions of purity. Processing & treating sewage ; The future of waste treatment.
Review by Library Journal Review

Disposing of water and human waste has been a pressing concern since the formation of human societies. Engineering feats have shunted materials around, with varying degrees of success, for more than 3,000 years. Halliday (Water: A Turbulent History) showcases his deep knowledge of history and engineering, from the use of stone drains in ancient Pakistan to dams in Australia to today's anaerobic digester tanks and the low-cost OmniProcessor. Maps and photos abound, though captions are occasionally difficult to read. VERDICT Readers will never again flush a toilet without marveling at this miracle of convenience and sanitation. A quirky and delightful asset for most libraries.

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