While it is illegal to do, in most cases leading to arrest and a few large fines, there are still secrets to be had by exploring older cities’ sewers. New York, Paris, even London have had urban explorers delving into places that almost no one has seen. You may be wondering how to enter these domains, where to find them, or even just how someone can manage the smell in the one place where we put everything bad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s everything you need to know about exploring sewers!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite what many think, some cities allow people to enter their sewer systems legally, allowing you to see a world with a guide or just in relative safety. Sometimes sewers that are constantly being maintained and rebuilt require that there be constant overseeing of the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This means for urban explorers that there may be a few people with whom you can talk to legally enter a set of sewers without the fear of being arrested. You can talk to sewer workers to be allowed to visit sewers during their daily work as well; however, this may be rarer as some cities will have laws forbidding the workers from taking people with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The only real way of entering sewers legally as an urban explorer is finding old unused sewers that have been entirely removed from the main systems. While access may be forbidden to these, it is not illegal to explore them, only dangerous beyond belief.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that you more or less know that it is illegal or you know someone that can give you legal access, you could be wondering why anyone would want to go and explore sewers at all. The answer is complex, and as the urban exploration bug bites you, then chances are you won\u2019t care. However, there are a few good reasons to explore in the sewer systems of some of the world’s largest cities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While these two can certainly feed into each other, they are not the same thing, and both are equally dangerous when the weather decides to turn bad. Knowing what the difference is before deciding to go exploring might mean the difference between becoming lost forever or being washed away by the next small drizzle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the name says, storm drains are for storms and can be deadly even when the sun is shining. A brief explanation of them is that when it rains, the water on the street needs somewhere to go, and it usually flows into a gutter. This gutter leads to a central draining system that eventually leads out to a storm drain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These storm drains almost always connect up to already existing rivers or into a trench system that eventually ends in a lake or dam. This is where people usually gain access to a storm drain, however, this is also what makes them so exceptionally dangerous.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Some storm drain systems are as large as entire cities, which means that you would never know when it rains somewhere a few miles away. So when you enter the drain, it may be dry and safe, but after only a few minutes, a flood of water too large to imagine will go through the drain and wash you away before you can think.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sewers are not always connected to storm drains, owing to many storm drains just washing water into a nearby river. This means that you cannot gain access to a sewer as easily, requiring you to find some other way of gaining access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sewers are where all the waste from houses go. This includes toilets, showers, or even just the washbasin. Most houses are connected to the system through simple PVC pipes, leading to larger PVC pipes. It is only at the main street level where these systems become larger, cement or ceramic type pipe systems.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Most urban explorers that gain access to sewer systems do so through central control structures. These are the little building above ground that hide massive caverns beneath them, where all the wastewater eventually leads up. However, it should be noted that most of these can be boring and contain deadly gases from the waste in the water; it is only a select few cities around the world that are worth exploring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest danger for sewers is not a flood of water; instead, it is the human waste that is contained in the water that becomes dangerous to urban explorers. Many times explorers are unaware of this danger and will scoff at any warning signs that may belay this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sewers are dangerous for two main reasons, methane and other gases that build up from human waste and the bacteria that grow in these environments. While sewer workers face these same problems, they are usually pumping fresh air down the system and walking around with gas meters.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The danger of exploring sewers is that you will die not from floods but from the waist we all produce in our daily lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you are sure about the sewer you want to go exploring, there are few unconventional things that you need to take with you to ensure that it is safe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n These may be things that are merely suggestions when you want to go exploring an abandoned building a few blocks from your house but are musts when you go to explore sewers older than your hometown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The last thing you need to take with you when exploring ancient sewer systems, or even new ones, is your wits. Too many people have thought they would be able to go a bit further, take an extra turn down another passage, and have gotten lost. Unlike virtually anywhere else on earth, there is no way of finding someone in these systems until it is too late.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sewers, even modern ones, are some of the most dangerous places on earth to explore; making stupid or brave mistakes will lead to death or worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is no real answer that will be correct here as it will depend on what type of sewer you are planning to explore. Sewers like those that lead into the catacombs beneath Paris are always easy to explore, owing to only a short trip requiring the sewer itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While other sewers like those in New York or beneath Las Vegas should only be braved when there is a negative chance of rain. These sewers can become flooded when it rains too heavily and being caught in them will mean you have washed away to your death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Checking local weather reports, finding some other explorer to accompany you, or just learning more about the city will mean you can easily and safely explore a sewer system. Just be sure you don\u2019t get caught up in any arguments that may be taking place about the sewers and who should access them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The most surprising thing about working and normal sewers is the smell. Many people go in thinking it will smell like a latrine that\u2019s been left too long in the sun. However, this is seldom the case, and many sewers that are worth exploring may not even have water in them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, for the modern ones that do have water in them, the smell will be closer to dishwater or bathwater than anything else. This is owing to the majority of all water in sewers coming from these sources, creating a mixture of chemicals that usually overpower any of the bad smells that might appear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For much older sewers that may not be used anymore, the water could be natural pools formed from rainwater. This creates a damp, musty smell, but not one of a foul variety, meaning you may not have to take a can of air freshener with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Exploring the world means exploring everything beneath us as well, with many people finding that the secrets hidden in the earth can be more interesting than anything on the surface. To explore the underground world can be slightly more rewarding as well, even if the only thing you ever discover is a hidden tunnel that runs beneath your very own house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just be sure to take a deep breath when you first head in; you never know just how well the smell can be masked with some watered down shampoo!<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow to legally enter a sewer?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Why do people want to explore sewers?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/li>
<\/li>
<\/li>
<\/li>![\"\"](\"http:\/\/craftofmanhood.com\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Is-It-Legal-To-Explore-City-Sewers-02.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat are the differences between a sewer and a storm drain?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Storm drains<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Sewers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What are the dangers of exploring sewers?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What to take with you when exploring sewers?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/li>
<\/li>
<\/li>
<\/li>
<\/li>![\"\"](\"http:\/\/craftofmanhood.com\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Is-It-Legal-To-Explore-City-Sewers-03.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhen is the best time to explore sewers?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Does it smell bad in sewers?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n