Have you stopped to consider what services power your lights and charge your smart devices? Turning on a switch seems easy, yet an intricate network of hidden infrastructure keeps your city running. This crucial infrastructure, however, remains hidden from sight, and is only thought of by maintenance workers and city managers.
The Underground Electric Network
Beneath your feet lies a tangled web of power cables. According to the folk at Commonwealth, these thick wires, insulated to avoid short circuits, transport power from the power plants to your neighborhood. Much like the way medicine moves through arteries, underground transmission lines move through the city to deliver power.
Buried power lines are favored over overhead wires because they are less prone to damage from storms. They also last significantly longer, with the potential of working optimally for 50 years or more.
City planners favor buried power lines because they enhance the aesthetic appeal of streets. No unsightly poles or drooping wires to ruin the view. Prettier neighborhoods please both tourists and residents.
Water Flows in Secret Highways
The clear water we get from our showers and faucets is thanks to a network of unseen pipes. Underground tunnels connected to reservoirs and treatment plants transport water. Some of these tunnels are enormous and can transport the same volume of a car.
Water systems can be explained through a complex circulatory system. Some pumping stations serve the purpose of pushing water to be stored in tanks and through smaller pipes. Smaller pipes then release water to the desired locations in various buildings. During all this water release, pressure regulators make sure that the water flow is not too high to blast a user.
Sewers: The Unsung Heroes
Underground sewer systems are crucial. They work silently to move wastewater and other waste from toilets, sinks, and drains. This, in turn, provides clean water to these fixtures. Without them, cities would be unlivable in just a few days.
Modern sewer systems are engineering marvels. They slope at just the right angle to keep water flowing without backing up. Special chambers catch debris before it clogs the pipes. Some cities even generate electricity from sewage gas.
Gas Lines Keep Things Cooking
Natural gas is transmitted through under-earth pipe networks to heat houses and provide fuel to stoves. These bright yellow pipes are checked and maintained regularly with sniffing gadgets to prevent gas leaks, which can be hazardous.
Gas systems are now much safer compared to the past, primarily because of the advent of smart systems that automatically track usage. These systems are capable of detecting leaks and disabling the gas supply in the event that something goes wrong.
Internet Cables Connect The World
Your Wi-Fi signal starts with fiber optic cables buried deep underground. Internet data travels through these tiny glass fibers at incredible speeds. One cable can handle millions of phone calls and video streams at the same time.
Telecom companies take extreme measures to ensure the safety of these cables. They place them in armored conduits and mark their locations. Construction workers are required to make contact before digging to prevent the accidental severing of cables, which could disrupt internet service for a large number of users.
Conclusion
The next time you use the light or flush the toilet, remember the quiet systems operating within and around the building. There are endless, and for the most part, forgotten pipes, cables, and tunnels working to assist you. These unseen systems are some of the greatest engineering accomplishments of humanity. The infrastructure you don’t see supports everything you do see.