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Robotic Mini-sub to Inspect NYC Water System
jhiv writes: "The Delaware Aqueduct, one of the world's longest water tunnels, may be developing potential serious leaks, according to this article in the New York Times (free registration). One leak has already created a pond and a stream with a flow of a million gallons per day. New York city officials plan to use a robotic mini-submarine being developed by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution to inspect the interior of the 13 foot diameter tunnel. Previous repairs required four deep sea divers to spend almost a week at 700 feet pressure to fix a leaking valve. Ironically, if the tunnel is repaired, the wetlands created by leaks will be destroyed, causing a potential EPA violation. Additional coverage can be found here and here." NYC has been building a third major water tunnel to take the load off the first two - but it's a fifty-year project.
It's simply amazing to me how much we take for granted our water supply....
:-)
That said, I hope there's still water to run through the aqueduct come May.... we're having a SERIOUS drought condition here in the Northeast...
In fact, both Jersey and New York (ever notice how Jersey is the only "New" state that can be named without the "new"? Anyway...) Anyway, both Jersey and New York are in a "Stage 3" water emergency.... and it's only early March!
This is gonna be a bad one.... let's hope the little yellow submarine finds some secret cache of a few billion gallons
--NBVB
The job seems like _the_ poster-boy for why we need autonomous robots...
"First lesson," Jon said. "Stick them with the pointy end."
I have respect for my country. I have respect for those who gave their lives willingly to better their fellow man.
Those dead in the WTC did not. It is of course tragic, but imo they are innocent bystanders when people backlashed against (perhaps only percieved) American oppression. And perhaps I should be dead with them for not turning our government towards more things like the Empire State Building, and the 3rd Water Tunnel, and away from policing the world, and forcing our laws and idologies on foreign lands.
Great wonders, prosperity, and people make America great; not our Armies and Diplomats. I've respect for my country, but I remember all its fallen, not just the 'tragedy of the week'.
Coward.
****Doesn't matter who regulates the filling of them, the problem is WHO defines what a wetland is. There is another poster who seems to think that with the EPA, 14 days of continued "wet" area... e.g. ponds, puddles, snowmelt, whatever, makes it a wetland.***
The Corps personnel determines what is and is not a wetland, based on a number of criteria (soils, indicator wetland species, etc.) It is partially subjective, but in your case (next to a lake), it's pretty clear cut.
***Furthermore, the Corps does NOT, as far as I can tell, regulate wetlands within incorporated areas***
Actually it does. It is just that there are seldom wetlands IN incorporated areas.
***and NOTHING prevents other agencies from stopping you, even if the Corps would give you a permit.***
That is true. In California, wetlands not under jurisdiction of the Corps can be regulated by the State Regional Water Quality Control Boards. I guess the alternative is to amend the Constitution to eliminate State rights.
***and nobody bothered to inform us over the 40 years that it had become one***
No one COULD inform you. Did you expect a gigantic Manhattan-project type of wetland survey that traveled across the land? Even the USGS doesn't do that level of survey for its maps. The criteria was, however, published in the Federal Register, for anyone to review that was interested. They even have a search page.
***and the land is worthless to anyone.**
Actually, it is worth a lot to whoever uses the water, both people and critters.
The alternative in your view, is that anyone should be able to destroy wetlands whenever they wanted to. Under that strategy, no one would have clean water to drink (our water agency is VERY concerned about wetlands filling, as it quantifiably degrades the water quality).
You expect it is your RIGHT to make money when you speculate on land? You have a chance to win or lose... in your case you lost.
Comment removed based on user account deletion
Roman aquaducts seem to be lasting 20 times as long as this. Silly capitalism. :)
Seriously, crumbling infrastructure is only part of the reason that I see water getting (comparitively) real expensive in our lifetime. As source waters get more scarce and contaminated treatment costs go up. Plus the infrastructure is just wearing out. And since governments (at least in N. America) seem loathe to raise taxes, the costs are going to be passed on to the end user. Which I really don't think is a bad thing, once people realize the real costs of the resources they take for granted, conservation should go way up.
So yeah, flame me for being a tree hugger. Some are passionate about linux, I'm passionate about water.
Laugh while you can, monkey boy!