King Charles made a lighthearted remark to workers during his visit to London’s new super sewer, calling the upcoming rain a “humongous horror.”
The King visited the Thames Tideway Tunnel on Wednesday to celebrate the completion of the 10-year project. This new infrastructure aims to protect the River Thames from sewage pollution for years to come.
The 25-kilometer long sewer system will capture, store, and transport sewage waste away from the Thames. With a combined capacity of 1.6 million cubic meters, the super sewer is expected to reduce sewage pollution in the river by 95%. Thames Water will manage the system as part of its London wastewater network.
During his visit to the project site in Embankment, central London, the King met with construction workers to learn about the system’s benefits and see the technology in action.
When he was told that some sewage work benefits from rainfall, Charles joked, “Don’t worry, it’s all going to come in one humongous horror.”
The ambitious project took 20,000 workers eight years to complete, at a cost of £4.5 billion. Stretching from Acton to Beckton, it is one of the largest engineering projects in recent years. The tunnel is 7.2 meters in diameter, the same width as three London double-decker buses. The two connecting tunnels are 5 and 2 meters in diameter, respectively.
Four massive tunneling machines were used to excavate the main sewer.
During his visit, the King met poet Dorothea Smartt, whose poems about the Thames are featured on the ventilation columns of the site.
The King inquired, “Have you done a different poem on each one?”
Thames Tideway’s CEO, Andy Mitchell, who gave the King a tour, said, “The King was fascinated by the details, the quality, and the humanity of the space.”
Mitchell added that the team was thrilled that the King recognized their hard work and dedication.
To reach the site, Charles traveled aboard the Mars Clipper, an Uber Boat typically used for passengers traveling in and out of central London. He waved at a group of onlookers cheering from a passing boat.
The King also asked Uber Boat CEO Sean Collins, “Does it go all year round?” The pair shared a laugh about Collins’ experience rowing on the Thames.
