Sentence:  One of the hidden glories of Victorian engineering is proper drains....But out of sight is out of mind. And that, together with the inherent yuckiness of the subject, <WSD>means</WSD> that many old sewers have been neglected and are in dire need of repair. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To result in; to bring about. (from 19th c.)