London's sewer system was designed by Sir Joseph Bazalgette 140 years ago - and Phil Stride, of Thames Water, wants to follow his Victorian hero's example.

SIR JOSEPH BAZALGETTE

Born in London on 28 March 1819 and began his career as a railway engineer, gaining considerable experience in land drainage and reclamation. In 1856, London's newly established metropolitan board of works supervised public works in a unified way for the first time and Bazalgette was made its chief engineer.

Between 1853 and 1854 more than 10,000 Londoners died of cholera and the air turned foul during the 1858 “Great Stink of London”. Bazalgette set to work and by 1866 most of London was connected to a sewer network that he devised, which ensured the flow of foul water from old sewers and underground rivers was intercepted and diverted along new, low-level sewers to treatment works.

By 1870 the Albert and the Victoria Embankments were built, replacing the tidal mud of the Thames shore with reclaimed ground which protected Bazalgette's low-level sewer, as well as a service subway and the underground railway. The Chelsea Embankment was completed in 1874, reclaiming over 52 acres from the Thames.

Throughout, Bazalgette continued to train young civil engineers and provide independent advice to other British cities. He died on 15 March 1891. His great-great grandson is Peter Bazalgette, the former head of Endemol — the company behind Channel 4 hit shows Big Brother and Deal or No Deal.

PHIL STRIDE

Born and educated in Bath, read engineering at Cardiff University, sponsored by Thames Water, and has been with the company ever since — a total of 35 years.

Leads a small team of just six directly employed by Thames Water for the super sewer project because the vast majority of work is to be contracted out. Sent around the world to observe other sewage systems, including those at Milwaukee, Chicago and Portland.

A great fan of Sir Joseph Bazalgette, Stride, 53, sees himself, with some humility, in that tradition. Descends regularly into Bazalgette's sewers to inspect the brickwork and mortar, and pronounces them “absolutely fabulous”. Hopes to see out the super sewer project, expected to be finished in 2018. Lives in a village in Berkshire, not far from Thames Water Headquarters.