Joseph Bazalgette completed the London Main Drainage System in 1865, a monumental engineering project aimed at combating the Great Stink and improving public health. The sewer network was designed to manage waste and prevent disease outbreaks in the rapidly growing city. Bazalgette's work not only transformed London's sanitation but also set a precedent for modern urban infrastructure.

The completion of London's Main Drainage System transformed the urban environment, inspiring poetic tributes to engineering triumphs over filth. This development influenced modernist poetry, where urban imagery became a central theme, reflecting the interplay between progress and the human experience.