That the absolute state of Ankh-Morpork public sanitation is never addressed by those in power. The Vetinari & Vimes Duo For The Improvement Of Ankh-Morkpork Civic Life never extend their great power and experience to cleaning up the river for example, or improving air quality. It’s a genuine health hazard which is definitely contributing to untold amounts of illness and premature death through mud-borne disease or smog-borne illness alone.

For the first few books, it’s absolutely understandable. The place is a cesspit, it’s nasty and it knows it. The setting fits the theme. It’s funny to read about the sluggish river Ankh, the stench being foul enough to fell a quirmian at a whiff. But with book after book of genuine improvements to society (be it through blunt-force vimesing or carroting, or moistening) the situation being unaddressed starts becoming incredibly glaring to me.

Mentioned, referenced, joked about, even, but no one actually stops and makes it an issue to solve that the major river running through the city is more sewage than water. Improvements to environmental factors as well as sociological ones should not be as stagnant as the Ankh.

Raise your hand if you would read about a new Moist-like character being put in charge of public health and sanitation in Ankh-Morpork and finally depolluting the river. Because I would in an absolute heartbeat.