Lee Tunnel

The Lee Tunnel is a deep-level sewer tunnel designed to capture combined sewer overflows that previously discharged directly into the River Lea. It serves as the eastern limb of the much larger Thames Tideway scheme.

Construction of the Lee Tunnel was completed around 2016. It represents a major step in upgrading London's aging Victorian-era sewer infrastructure to handle modern capacity.

The Lee Tunnel is built at a deep level, sitting approximately 75 meters beneath the surface of east London. This depth allows it to efficiently intercept and transfer wastewater using gravity.

The tunnel was commissioned by Thames Water, the utility company responsible for managing water and wastewater services across London. It remains one of their most significant environmental improvement projects to date.