corey wowk - sentient city

8/7/2019 Corey Wowk - Sentient City

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UNDERGROUND AND THE CITY


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density of the city

Adjacentcy of water + Cities

Undergound and the City

The Water Underground

Cities are complex entities consisting of muliple

layers of infrastructure. Often the most attributed and

recognized infrastructure typologies are those that are

above the surface. While inhabitants are often living

above-grade, connections to the subterrainean levels

happens not only via transportation, but have a direct

correlation to the citys utilities and public works. Con-

versely, the association of the city to its waterways

and its link to water - both waste and potable has a

critical impact on the vitality and lively-hood of the city

and its in habitants.

New York City, while being surrounded and di-rectly correlated to its waterways is often praised for

providing its residents with some of the highest quatl-

ity potable water of any city. However, this quality of

water, along with New Yorks waterways arei often

threatened by the unexpected discharge of waste wa-

ter, causing potential environmental and health issues

to not only the residents of New York City, but the sur-

rounding wildlife.

CH.09 CH.08 CH.07 CH.06 CH.05 CH.04 CH.03 CH.02


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Ice damming on Broadway and 96th st

Overflowing drains in Chinatown

Underground and the City

Water Overflow

Runoff from rain and melting snow, street and

sidewalk washing, and other outdoor activities flows

into catchbasins in the streets and from there into the

sewers. In some New York City neighborhoods, run-

off from the streets is carried by separate storm sew-

ers directly to local streams, rivers and bays. In most

areas of the City, sanitary and industrial wastewater,

rainwater and street runoff are collected in the same

sewers and then conveyed together to the Citys treat-

ment plants. This is known as a combined sewer sys-

tem. During heavy rains or snow, combined sewers fill

to capacity and are unable to carry the combined sani-tary and storm sewage to the plants.When this occurs

the mix of excess storm water and untreated sewage

flows directly into the Citys waterways. This is called

combined sewer overflow (CSO). Approximately 70

percent of the City sewers are combined.



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Installation of sewer tunnel

excavation of earth to create tunnel

www.nyc.gov

www.nyc.gov

nderground and the City

Development of sewers and Water

During the 19th Century, much of New York City

came threatened with Cholora due to the lack of

oper sanitation, and inadequate disposal of sewage.

ch of the sewage from the city was tossed into the

tter, where it would sit, and stagnate until the water

s absorbed by the ground. However, this did not

igate the stench left over by these open sewers,

r did it prevent the spread of disease throughout the

y.

With the introduction of a much needed sew-

system, many of the public health problems were

nificantly reduced, and the diplacement of sewagem the street could now be directed down through

the sewer system, where it is sent to waste water

atment plants. Currently, 14 waste water treatment

ilities are located in New York City

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Future Water supply tunnels

Development of Water supply Tunnels


water supply tunnels



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Canal Street Sewer

Canal street Sewer

http://www.undercity.org

http://www.undercity.org


Canal Street

One of the earliest sewers that is still being used

ay, is the Canal Street Sewer, which runs undern-

ath the road. While this this sewer was originally, a

terway, both waste water and storm water are dis-

arged into the sewer, and its destination terminates

the Hudson River.

Though this sewer may seem to be uncommon,

that it connects directly into the river system, this

nnection, as not as rare as it may initially sound.

ch is the case, as a sewer becomes overtaxed

ring intense rain events when the sheer volume of

rmwater and wastewater entering the system fillsem to capacity, leaving no space for excess water

enter. In this condition, described as a sewer be-

surcharged, the excess stormwater remains above

ound. Unless absorbed by green spaces or chan-

ed to a body of water, this flooding can flow off the

eet into below-grade areas such as driveways, pa-

s and basements.



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axonometric section cut below grade


Sub-terrainean Urban Fabric

This image displays the varying sub-surface

layers, and the complexity of the urban fabric below

grade.



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Seperate Sewer Areas

Combined Sewer Area

www.reno.gov

www.reno.gov


Sewer Types

Separate Sewer Areas

In some New York City neighborhoods, sani-

y waste and stormwater runoff are channeled in

parate sewer systems: sanitary waste is carried

wastewater treatment plants while stormwater is

anneled directly to local streams, rivers, and bays.

Combined Sewer Areas

In most areas of the City, sanitary and industrial

stewater, rainwater and street runoff are collectedhe same sewers and then conveyed together to the

ys treatment plants. This is known as a combined

wer system. Approximately 70 percent of the City

wers are combined.



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single system - street level to sewer

catch basin


single system diagrams

During heavy rain and snow storms, combined

sewers receive higher than normal flows. Treatment

plants are unable to handle flows that are more than

twice design capacity and when this occurs, a mix

of excess stormwater and untreated wastewater dis-

charges directly into the Citys waterways at certain

outfalls. This is called a combined sewer overflow

(CSO).CSOs are a concern because of their effect on

water quality and recreational uses.



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man hole covers

catch basin

www.nyc.gov

www.flikr.com


sewer and Catch Basin



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waste water pipes

excavated sewage and drain lines

underground and the City

Fixing undeground systems



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steam release from Sewer

maintenance crews work on sewer

www.flikr.com

www.flikr.com


sewer maintenance

When problems occur within the sewer system,

blic work crews are dispatched to alleviate the prob-

ms within the targeted area. However, overflow pe-

ds and dispatched responses may not overlap, as

erflowing basins and sewers may recede and the

charge of raw sewage already taken place once

blic work crews arrive.



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a device to monitor moisture and water

NYC water testing station


Analysis

Currently, NYC analyzes the quality of drinking

water at a number of monitoring stations throughout

the city. However, no device is utilized to keep tabs

on the overflowing sewers being discharged at street

level. Due to the high potential health hazards asso-

ciated with exposure to raw sewage, it is imperative

to monitor the citys catch basins and man-holes to

ensure the health of city is maintained at reasonable

levels.

There are a number of monitoring devices

available to detect water and moisture levels on the

market today. These sensors come with a price tagof approximately $10-$18, which would directly impact

the deployment and installation of such a monitoring

device. By utilizing a simple wire gauged probe, cost-

ing only a few cents each, monitoring devices can be

deployed through out the city with minimal budget im-

plications.



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sewer near capacity

Sewer overflowing at catch basins

Sewer at normal level

Sewer Beyond Capacity

nderground and the city

Monitoring system

As storm drains and fill, and the sewers reach

eir capacity, a simple monitoriing device placed near

e top of the of catch basin and man holes can alert

ose in the nearby location of a potential overflow.

With this information, residents will know

ether the environmental and health safety with

ere neighborhood. This information can either be

ced online and monitored in a real-time analysis

both the public as well as the NYC Department of

blic Works.

Shop keepers, pedestrians and planned street

ents could be informed to know whether the streetsd sidewalks are considered safe, and free of sew-

e discharge. With over 70% of NYCs sewers com-

ing both storm water and waste water, the majority

the city can benefif from this analysis system, and

orm those who utilize the street as both a thorough

e, as well as a temporary backyard, and place of

spite.


corey wowk - sentient city

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