The Horrific Story of London's 'Death Pump' That Poisoned Thousands of Citizens
Londoners have had problems with drinking water and sewage for centuries. Until the mid-19th century, the city's wastewater flowed into the Thames, polluting drinking water sources and causing outbreaks of infections. But even after modern sewage and running water appeared, city dwellers were not completely safe. A striking example is the Aldgate Pump, which Londoners nicknamed the "Death Pump."
The Aldgate water source, located in the center of London, in the City, has a long history. In the 12th century, there was an ordinary well, and in the 16th century, it was replaced by a primitive hand pump. In the 18th century, after another reconstruction of the central part of the city, a new mechanism was installed, enclosed in a massive stone obelisk. This monument can still be seen today.
The end of the pump pipe was decorated with a metal wolf's head, from whose grinning mouth water was pouring. In this way, the creators of the water pump reminded us that once upon a time the last wolf in the City was killed in this place. Today, this element seems sinister, given the events associated with the Aldgate Pump.
The City loved the Aldgate Pump and considered the water from it to be the tastiest. Locals and tavern and pub owners collected water from it, which was considered ideal for making tea and cooking. Some even came from far away, as it was believed that real English milk tea could only be made with Aldgate spring water.
In the 1850s and 60s, when London was installing sewers and water pipes, residents feared that their favorite source would be closed. But this did not happen, and the pump remained in place, even after taps appeared in every home.
The grey stone obelisk became a landmark in Aldgate. Housewives met there to exchange news, and lovers made dates. The pump served as a kind of boundary between the respectable City and the East Side, an area with a criminal reputation.
In 1876, residents noticed that the taste of the water from the Aldgate Pump had changed slightly. This had happened before, usually due to mineralization, so no one paid any attention to it. People continued to collect water as before. The calcium content had indeed increased, but the cause was far from benign.
The spring that fed the Aldgate pump was located several kilometers away. The underground stream had long been enclosed in a stone channel laid at a considerable depth. In the early 1870s, the old cemetery of Aldermary (Putney), on the outskirts of London, which had existed since the 18th century, was closed. It was converted into a city park, but most of the graves were left in place.
Something went wrong during the landscaping. The contents of a water pipe running directly beneath the cemetery began to leak. Minerals, organic matter, and decomposition products from bodies seeped through cracks in the stone slabs, saturating the water with calcium and other compounds.
The water from the Aldgate pump became deadly. After boiling, its quality was tolerable, but those who habitually drank spring water straight from the pump often fell ill. Over a couple of years, the water from the "Death Pump" poisoned several thousand people, hundreds of whom died from intestinal infections.
An outbreak of dangerous diseases in the City and an increase in mortality, especially among children, forced the authorities to conduct an investigation. They immediately found out that the pump was to blame. Water analysis showed that the content of impurities in it was 5 times higher than the norm. The pump was closed, and residents of the East Side and the City switched to tap water.
A couple of years later, the Aldgate pump was connected to the central water supply and was put into use again. The pump on the edge of the City worked until the late 1920s, then it was closed forever. But the London authorities decided not to remove the stone obelisk with the wolf's head. It still stands on the street, now as a tourist attraction.
So the story of the Aldgate Pump became a reminder of how important clean water and sanitation are, even in modern megacities. Today, we take access to safe water for granted, but could we face similar threats in the future? What environmental or technological challenges do you think could affect the quality of drinking water today? Share your thoughts in the comments!