Perhaps a lesser-known fact is that the history of Rue Eugène Pierre Marielle is intimately linked to the evolution of Paris itself. By the late 18th century the city struggled with sanitation. Disease was rampant. The sewers became a critical issue. Over the 19th century significant advancements occurred. The sewer system became more efficient. It deftly wound beneath the city. This unitary system was gravity-fed. It became a visitable network. Paris began to breathe easier.
Let’s delve into how Rue Eugène Pierre Marielle fits into this narrative. At the beginning of the 19th century a sewer existed under Paris. Yet it had not fulfilled its crucial role. In 1800 only 16 km of sewers served 550000 inhabitants. It was in 1806 that the sewer service was entrusted to the engineers of Bridges and Causeways.
The first real sewer system emerged in 1833. Its goal was to collect rainwater and street runoff diverted from fountains. This new system allowed water to flow beneath the city. Paris gradually drained its waste through this underground network. Waste fluids were then sent to fertilize crops outside the capital.
Eugène Belgrand truly shaped the Paris sewers. He holds a special place in their history. Belgrand was a polytechnical engineer. He was passionate about hydrology. Prefect Haussmann appointed him to oversee the water service of Paris in 1854. From 1865 he set up spring water catchments. His aim was to provide the city with pure water. This new system also ran through the sewers. Non-drinking water for parks gardens and streets also used this system.
Belgrand ensured that pure water was distributed and recovered after use. In 1867 he became the head director of Waters and Sewers of Paris. He also developed machines to maintain the sewers. These included valve boats for large collectors and wagons for small collectors. A machine injector was used for basic sewers. These mechanical purification methods remain in use today.
The sewers’ paths below mirrored the changing streets above. The evolution of one impacted the other. As early as 1833 pavements started to curve. They were equipped with side streams to collect street water. This water was discharged twice daily by over a thousand fountains. Simultaneously the first coherent sewer system arose. It recovered cleaning water and rainwater.
Early on wastewater was considered a valuable resource. Victor Hugo called organic materials from Parisian homes human fertilizer. He believed that discarding this manure gold into the water was a loss. From 1868 until the early 20th century sewage water was used for agricultural irrigation. It treated wastewater and fertilized the land. Crop yields increased and Parisians were fed.
However as buildings were equipped with sewerage wastewater volumes increased drastically. The fields’ surface area decreased due to urbanization. Hygienists raised concerns about health risks. They also questioned the competitiveness of chemical fertilizers. Consequently the watering of outer fields gradually stopped in the 20th century. Alternatives such as biological purification processes were sought. Sewage treatment plants were built. Their residues are recovered and used in agriculture today. The story of Rue Eugène Pierre Marielle is interwoven with the story of Paris’s growth and sanitation challenges. The sewers reflect Paris’s commitment to progress and public health.