Paris' ancient sewer system, over 150 years old, uses 19th-century tools for cleaning, with workers navigating 8 meters underground to maintain the city's infrastructure.
Paris sewer network's age and length
Paris's sewer network, one of the oldest in Europe, spans over 2,500 kilometers and has been cleaned using the same tools since its creation in the 1850s. The system is crucial for managing the city's waste and stormwater.Sewer cleaning operation begins at midnight
A team of workers descended into the Paris sewers after midnight to clean a major section using a gate boat. The operation started the day for the sewer workers, who face difficult and physical conditions.Opening the Marceau collector
To access the Marceau collector, a key pipeline, workers removed 45 asphalt slabs and a complex arrangement of concrete and metal plates. A strong odor emerged from the open well before a crane lowered the gate boat into the sewers, eight meters below ground.Manual effort required after installation
Once the gate boat was in place, workers had to manually tow it upstream for 800 meters using a rope. This task, performed by sixty agents, was described as tiring and not preferred by the workers, despite the need for precise placement of the boat.Sewer boat's operation and limitations
The gate boat moves through natural hydraulic force, collecting effluent like sand, rain, fecal matter, and other waste. Trials with modern equipment had failed, so the city continues using traditional methods, relying on human strength and historical techniques.Paris sewer system's design and maintenance
The sewer network operates as a gravity system, using slopes to guide water toward the northwest. Maintained for over 150 years by night-shift workers, the system remains functional without replacement, thanks to consistent cleaning and preservation efforts.
