The 1881 Ordnance Survey map shows open fields and Deephams farm between the railway and the navigation,[5] but by 1896, housing has begun to appear.

[6] By 1914, both facilities were owned by Edmonton Urban District, and the farm had expanded to include a large irregular-shaped filter bed.

[9] In the early 1950s, the first of three parallel diffused aeration process streams was completed, which included primary and secondary treatment of the effluent.

[10] Upgrades to the infrastructure were carried out in the 1980s, when screening of storm flows was introduced, and in the 1990s, when a sludge digestion facility was built.

Waltham Abbey, Cheshunt, Cuffley and north east Enfield are connected to the Lee Valley Sewer.

It is also joined by the Chingford Branch Sewer, which serves the western part of the London Borough of Waltham Forest.

[13] By 2011, the site was the fourth largest of the sewage treatment works operated by Thames Water, and served a population equivalent of 885,000.

A major reconstruction project was begun, which involved increasing the capacity of the works to cater for a population equivalent of 941,000 and a peak inlet flow of 497 Megalitres per day (Mld).

[14] Because of the constrained nature of the site, consideration was given, during the design phase, to building part of the new works at a separate location.

After a period, which allows most of the organic material to settle out, the liquor passes over weirs at the end of the settlement tanks to the secondary treatment process.

This consists of aeration lanes, where air is pumped through the liquor, to encourage the growth of bacteria which are already present in the wastewater.

[23] Sludge and scum from the primary settlement tanks has its water content lowered, and is then stored to allow levels of bacteria and pathogens to reduce naturally.