ABSTRACT
River pollution was an historical phenomenon of major importance— for health, industrial development, and the evolution of municipal administration. Use of river water for canals or for urban water supplies intensified the problem. The building of sewers, enlargement of water supplies, and installation of water closets increased pollution during the second half of the century. Lancashire rivers were described as deadly, slimy giant snakes wriggling their slow and tortuous courses through the towns they infest, or besmearing the landscape with their muddy trail, and emitting odours such as man cannot live in. Northern rivers were polluted chiefly by industrial wastes, especially textile washing and dyeing water. The embarrassment and ambivalence of the sanitarians’ response to river pollution is in sharp contrast with the outrage of fishermen, landowners and, surprisingly, some manufacturers. Manufacturers’ views of the duties of rivers were less uniform than might be expected.
