The Lee Tunnel will run from east London's Abbey Mills Pumping Station to Beckton. Seven metre in diameter, the tunnel will capture sewage mixed with rainwater which normally overflows into the River Lee at Abbey Mills following heavy rain. The Lee Tunnel will transfer the flows to Beckton Sewage Treatment Works, which is being expanded to deal with the increased volumes.
 

Steve Shine, Thames Water's chief operating officer said: “The Lee Tunnel will cut in half the 32 million tonnes of storm sewage that currently overflows into London’s rivers each year. This is an essential part of providing the capital with a 21st century sewer system, resulting in a cleaner and healthier river that we can all be proud of."
 

MVB, made up of joint venture partners Morgan Est, Vinci Construction Grands Projets and Bachy Soletanche will start work on the Lee Tunnel in early 2010 and the project is due for completion in 2014 at an estimated total cost of £600m.