Thames Unfiltered: How clean is our river? | A podcast

From the heart of the countryside to the centre of our city, millions of lives are touched by the River Thames. In the Thames Unfiltered podcast, business journalist Lucy Tobin takes us on a six-part journey along the Thames, as we uncover the complex problems, and the groundbreaking solutions, it faces.In episode one, we hear from campaigners, scientists and politicians, as well as the company accused of failing to look after London’s river, Thames Water.Episode 1: How Healthy is the Thames?In the first episode of Thames Unfiltered, host Lucy Tobin asks the question:How healthy is the Thames today?Since being declared biologically dead in the mid-20th century, we explore the state of the Thames today, and who and what will impact its future.We examine the role of Thames Water, the impact of climate change and population growth, the importance of the river’s tributaries and ecosystems, and whether major projects like London’s £5 billion “super sewer” — the Tideway Tunnel — can help secure the river’s future.As the debate over Britain's waterways intensifies, this episode sets the scene for a series exploring one of the country's most important rivers — and everything that depends on it.Episode 2: What Does Clean Really Mean?In the second episode of Thames Unfiltered, host Lucy Tobin asks the question:What does clean really mean?The River Thames is healthier than it was decades ago, with wildlife returning to parts of the river once declared biologically dead. But beneath the surface, the picture is far more complicated.In this episode, Lucy speaks to scientists, campaigners and conservationists about how river health is measured.From real-time sewage maps and wet wipe pollution to seahorses, porpoises and harbour seals, we discover that a healthy Thames isn't necessarily a pristine one — it's a living, thriving ecosystem.Episode 3: The Victorian Sewer That Built Modern LondonIn the third episode of Thames Unfiltered, host Lucy Tobin explores the engineering marvel that is London’s sewer network.After the Great Stink of 1858 and cholera outbreaks that forced politicians to act, the Victorian system was designed by Sir Joseph Bazalgette in the mid-20th century.That same Victorian system still serves London today.Lucy pays a visit to Abbey Mills Pumping Station, or “Poo Palace”, to find out what happens when a 150-year-old system is pushed beyond the limits its creator could have imagined.Read MoreThis episode features interviews with the “Queen of London’s Poo”, Dina Gillespie, and Sir Peter Bazalgette, great-great-grandson of Joseph Bazalgette.Episode 4: Inside London's Super SewerIn the fourth episode of Thames Unfiltered, host Lucy Tobin investigates the Tideway Tunnel — the vast engineering project built beneath the River Thames to tackle London's sewage pollution problem.Following decades of sewage spills into the river, the £4.6 billion "super sewer" was designed to capture millions of tonnes of wastewater that would otherwise overflow into the Thames during heavy rainfall.But while the tunnel is reducing pollution, can it protect London from the increasing threat of flash flooding?This episode features interviews with Thames Water's head of waste operations Tim Davies, catchment management expert Alex Nickson, seventh-generation waterman Chris Livett and Sir Peter Bazalgette.Episode 5: Thames Water in the Hot SeatIn the fifth episode of Thames Unfiltered, host Lucy Tobin examines the growing controversy surrounding Thames Water.Lucy sits down with Cathryn Ross, strategy and external affairs director of Thames Water, to ask the questions we all want answering:Why are our water bills going up?Why is there still sewage in the river Thames?Why is Thames Water in so much debt?And is it going to be nationalised? Episode 6: The Future of the ThamesIn the sixth and final episode of Thames Unfiltered, host Lucy Tobin explores what lies ahead for the River Thames.The river is cleaner than it once was, but it remains under pressure from climate change, population growth, pollution and rising demand for water.Lucy investigates the big questions that will shape the Thames in the decades ahead:Who should be responsible for protecting it?Can the river cope with a growing population and hotter summers?Will major infrastructure projects secure London's water supply?And what are the new threats emerging?Listen to Thames Unfiltered on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, brought to you by The Standard, in association with Thames Water. All content has been created under The Standard's editorial control