Title: Victorian London’s Health Crisis - The Cholera Epidemics And Their Resolution
Speaker: Robert Casey

In 1831 a terrifying new epidemic arrived in London, there was no cure and doctors had no idea how the disease was spread. Rob will explain how the water supply and sanitation infrastructure made London particularly susceptible to the cholera disease and the drastic transformation that took place to resolve the crisis. These reforms still form the basis of London’s current water supply and sewerage systems and were a blueprint for many systems throughout the world. Rob’s talk will focus largely on the impact on the water supply infrastructure which is less well known than the sewage side.

Rob Casey is a Patron and Tour Guide at the London Museum of Water and Steam and a Past Master of the Water Conservators Company with an active interest in the environment and the history of London’s water supply. Recently retired, Rob was Water Strategy Manager for Thames Water Utilities and worked for over 40 years on the planning and operation of their water supply system network supporting over 7.5 million customers. During that period, he developed an intimate knowledge of London’s water supply system and has presented on many aspects of its history to various audiences ranging from institutions to local societies.