Exploring San Francisco's Hidden Tunnels | Bay Curious

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  • čas přidán 5. 09. 2024
  • With nearly a million residents, San Francisco is bustling with life, but what goes on underneath the city is just as intricate. Built more than a century ago during the gold rush, San Francisco’s sewer system is a feat of engineering that very few get to see. Bay Curious follows San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Assistant Engineer Megan Abadie on an exploration of the hidden tunnels beneath the city's streets.
    UPDATE: We removed a quote that included an inaccurate statement about sewer networks across California. Almost all of San Francisco uses a combined sewer system. San Francisco, along with a small part of Sacramento, are the only cities in California that use a combined system.

Komentáře • 171

  • @garcia9242
    @garcia9242 Před 3 lety +264

    Them Sewers look cleaner than the streets of San Francisco.

    • @nategadow4482
      @nategadow4482 Před 3 lety +14

      Probably more poop on the sidewalk

    • @anthonyroberson5199
      @anthonyroberson5199 Před 3 lety +15

      Funny but true

    • @thomaskrehbiel2946
      @thomaskrehbiel2946 Před 3 lety +7

      Sad comment regarding what the government has allowed to happen to San Francisco. When all the tourists don’t return maybe, just maybe the Supervisors will understand who is at fault.... but ....

    • @craigbradl4139
      @craigbradl4139 Před 3 lety +1

      One tunnel big deal ,a joke

    • @Planetcat2071
      @Planetcat2071 Před 3 lety +1

      @@thomaskrehbiel2946 They couldn’t care less. Them and the city workers and Bart get paid the all the same. More people and more commerce to them just means more work. I’ve worked there for 30 years and the recent lack of caring about that city is really sickening. It’s the city worker paradox there: hire more and more low grade employees that are never fired no matter how bad they are, and watch the city turn into a crime ridden dump.

  • @BlueDotSessions
    @BlueDotSessions Před 4 lety +31

    Thanks for having us in this video!

  • @icysurfer1
    @icysurfer1 Před 3 lety +26

    We found tunnels under a downtown SF nightclub. With concrete walled rooms. Speakeasy was our guess. One room had a bunch of liquor bottles .

    • @michelleb831
      @michelleb831 Před 3 lety +2

      Which club?

    • @BallardBaller
      @BallardBaller Před 3 lety +2

      There was one in the basement of my friends night club, off Mission St, it connected to a few other basements on neighboring streets.

    • @frankyu553
      @frankyu553 Před 3 lety +7

      A few of those tunnels are still working and used for a speakeasy called "Anti-Saloon League, ironically named for a Pro-Prohibition org back in the early 20th century. The tunnels lead out to various exits so that, back in the day, people secretly drinking could get out without getting noticed. The speakeasy is still a (pretty cool) bar and tunnels can still be used for exits.

    • @lasergabe
      @lasergabe Před 3 lety +4

      Bro tell us what club

    • @youradhere1217
      @youradhere1217 Před 3 lety +3

      Why you all want to know? You all just going to blow up the spot and have someone close access to it. I never share “secret spots” I only tell very close friends so they know where to look if I go missing.

  • @JimCTSCLO
    @JimCTSCLO Před 4 lety +27

    I have the pleasure of working with many of the heroes in SFPUC Wastewater. They truly care and work miracles on a daily basis. Great video.

    • @daniellomeli9884
      @daniellomeli9884 Před 3 lety +3

      Hey any chance you guys are hiring? I am really interested in this type of job

  • @alicefreist318
    @alicefreist318 Před 3 lety +22

    Bad idea or not ... many years ago, I tagged along with friends who'd gone "spelunking" in the tunnels before. We entered out by the ocean and went exploring as far as we dared ... it was appropriately terrifying. I do not recommend for a variety of reasons.

    • @morgato4200
      @morgato4200 Před 3 lety +5

      I did that on lsd

    • @gunslingingbird74
      @gunslingingbird74 Před 3 lety +4

      Care to elaborate?

    • @alicefreist318
      @alicefreist318 Před 3 lety +4

      At least one of the excursions was admittedly "under the influence." Ah, those were the days ... back when "microdose" meant "I got ripped off, dammit!."

    • @tedkaplan6639
      @tedkaplan6639 Před 3 lety +1

      @@alicefreist318 Glad you survived! Was John Law involved?

    • @408HaRRy530
      @408HaRRy530 Před 3 lety

      Where is the ocean entrance??

  • @samiam9059
    @samiam9059 Před 3 lety +5

    Had no idea those are so huge and tall! great video...

  • @pattyandbustershow1031
    @pattyandbustershow1031 Před 4 lety +41

    So, no crossover into old Chinatown tunnels?

    • @oscar7513
      @oscar7513 Před 3 lety +5

      Right? I was hoping to see Lo Pan or at least the Sewer Monster... disappointed!

  • @lt2143
    @lt2143 Před 3 lety +11

    This is very inspiring. My nieces will know there are additional professions they can aim from.
    It would be awesome had there a CGI of the tunnels for a better view and perspective.

  • @seanglennon4012
    @seanglennon4012 Před 3 lety +3

    My grandfather used to play in these tunnels when he was a little boy back in the 1920's. People used to get Shanghaid through some of these tunnels

    • @brendanhauser4644
      @brendanhauser4644 Před 3 lety

      Shanghaid?

    • @something_in_the_radiator1665
      @something_in_the_radiator1665 Před 3 lety +1

      @@brendanhauser4644 Shanghaied, forcing someone to join to work on a ship lacking a crew. enslavement.

    • @snowyowlz5992
      @snowyowlz5992 Před 3 měsíci

      Get drunk the previous evening and find yourself on another ship at sea and only then waking up from your drunken stupor…

  • @sinbaon2154
    @sinbaon2154 Před 3 lety +5

    This Was A Great Introduction To The Underworld So To Speak

  • @StevenTorrey
    @StevenTorrey Před 3 lety +8

    It is easy to lose sight of the fact that beneath the city, there is massive granite base.

    • @DeanStephen
      @DeanStephen Před 3 lety +7

      That is the bedrock that the Millennium Tower’s foundation should have been set upon.

  • @eastbaykidd8574
    @eastbaykidd8574 Před 3 lety +8

    The gas detectors must really go off underneath the Mission Burrito place.

  • @christophersherman1198
    @christophersherman1198 Před 3 lety +5

    They had a attraction made out of one of those tunnels. I think it's called the San Fransisco Dungeon. A ride people can take to see historical period stuff in SF. I never made it there to see myself. I dont know if it's still there.
    If your interested I think you can look it up. ✌🏼

  • @CrankyHermit
    @CrankyHermit Před 3 lety +20

    Misleading title, unanswered questions. All style and cuteness here, no substance. You left people confused and uninformed about an important subject.

    • @jessicabarsse3701
      @jessicabarsse3701 Před 3 lety

      Absolutely agree with you!

    • @danielgoodson8155
      @danielgoodson8155 Před 3 lety +1

      Agreed. Was expecting something entirely different.
      As the piece progressed, found wanting. Well said.

    • @RavenJCain
      @RavenJCain Před 3 lety +1

      Particularly the part about dumping sewage into the ocean when it gets too full. A little clarity on that would have been great.

  • @marcballesteros
    @marcballesteros Před 4 lety +27

    Heard there are still ships buried all around San Francisco

    • @dk50b
      @dk50b Před 3 lety +6

      According to the National Park Service 50 at last count czcams.com/video/u5yIo75WZwI/video.html

    • @justinoak9196
      @justinoak9196 Před 3 lety +2

      Correct in the Finanical District. You can find out more by visiting the Guest area in Trans America Building.

  • @aroach337
    @aroach337 Před 3 lety +31

    Our combined system with direct access to the bay. Doesn't that mean untreated sewage going directly into the bay every heavy rain, or did I miss something.

    • @CBlargh
      @CBlargh Před 3 lety +18

      It means 2 things:
      1. Really heavy rains _can_ overflow the catchment and send untreated sewage into the bay.
      2. Much less of the oils and toxins from the street find their way into the bay, because they are removed by the treatment facilities before the water gets there.
      In general, I am in favour of the system. It could probably use more catchment storage to stop the overflow incidents.

    • @StevenTorrey
      @StevenTorrey Před 3 lety +3

      The storm drainage system (above ground where you see grates) is not connected to the sewer system; two separate sets of drainage. Not really explained in the video that they are not connected,

    • @ciscokid77
      @ciscokid77 Před 3 lety +10

      @@StevenTorrey The storm drains on the street surface do tie in to the main sanitary system in San Francisco, with the exception of a handful of spots. San Francisco is one of the only cities in the country to have a "combined sewer system" .

    • @lhzav
      @lhzav Před 3 lety +1

      Weirs and baffles prevent solids and floating wastewater particles from entering the bay, or ocean, and large transport storage structures hold excess rainfall until it can be treated. A combined sewer overflow only occurs when the transport storage box is full.

    • @StevenTorrey
      @StevenTorrey Před 3 lety +2

      @@ciscokid77 Now that you mention it, you may be right.

  • @Cyndogg085
    @Cyndogg085 Před 3 lety +3

    That job seems fun.

  • @JChang0114
    @JChang0114 Před 3 lety +4

    Waiting for Flukeman.

  • @sillypeople4873
    @sillypeople4873 Před 3 lety +9

    Love the full make-up.

  • @tantradossantos4501
    @tantradossantos4501 Před rokem

    Thank you for your service. 🙏

  • @timberwolvesxx7250
    @timberwolvesxx7250 Před 3 lety +1

    fascinating. i learned so much from this video

  • @RunDub
    @RunDub Před 3 lety +1

    What a cool job!

  • @KerryDSC
    @KerryDSC Před 3 lety +7

    cool job, she should wear a respirator though

  • @davidfrancis949
    @davidfrancis949 Před 2 lety +1

    SO DOES SEEAGE WATER GO INTO SANFRANCISCO BAY

  • @rdbjrseattle
    @rdbjrseattle Před rokem

    That’s what happened in Seattle. The tides backed up in the sewer pipes. The lower floors were covered over and became basements with sidewalks overhead, now Seattle Underground tours started in the 1960s.

  • @akamano5
    @akamano5 Před 6 dny

    ...i remember this view at about 4:11,,...

  • @Stensland55
    @Stensland55 Před rokem

    Back in 1994-95 I worked on that tunnel and overflow they showed.

  • @LildaddyFire151
    @LildaddyFire151 Před 3 lety +3

    Thought it was gonna be the Chinatown tunnels. But remember they got filled in

  • @jessicabarsse3701
    @jessicabarsse3701 Před 3 lety +4

    Well once i saw what this video was about i was sooo excited to watch and learn but it really didn't show much☹. No telling where they are or what entrances there are. I honestly would have been happier with a map of the underground tunnels! Maybe re-do??

    • @tedkaplan6639
      @tedkaplan6639 Před 3 lety +5

      This is a video by KQED public broadcasting, there is no way they are going to make a guide to illegally exploring tunnels where you can be killed 5 different ways.

    • @sfnative9365
      @sfnative9365 Před 3 lety +3

      why on earth would they tell or even give any more of a hint than they did about where this is. do some research and maybe you can find something, i dont mean this disrespectfully just saying.

    • @lhzav
      @lhzav Před 3 lety +3

      Join the SF Hiking Club. We’ve hiked there.

  • @dreboerte5864
    @dreboerte5864 Před 4 lety +7

    Circle of life where human go swimming in them.

  • @alancampos8906
    @alancampos8906 Před 4 lety +8

    Combined systems are a waste of rain water!

    • @BallardBaller
      @BallardBaller Před 3 lety +1

      All the shits the homeless take on the street go to the same place you flush 😂

  • @blacklanner5886
    @blacklanner5886 Před 3 lety +3

    And I thought San Francisco smelled bad above ground.

  • @kotastrophie
    @kotastrophie Před 10 měsíci

    Almost as short as the podcast. Only difference is the 10 minutes of ads that make the podcast seem longer

  • @randywest1185
    @randywest1185 Před 3 lety +5

    Not actually a particularly clear explanation of anything.

  • @lukesky6157
    @lukesky6157 Před 4 lety +11

    So what smells worse? The sewers or the streets? Or are they considered the same thing now?

    • @pwp8737
      @pwp8737 Před 3 lety +7

      The worst is the stench of transplants who contribute nothing to the betterment of humanity; no amount of designer cologne can mask that smell

    • @bethanyp4698
      @bethanyp4698 Před 3 lety +2

      @@pwp8737 perioddd

  • @davidfrancis949
    @davidfrancis949 Před 2 lety

    SEWAGE EXCRETEMENT GO AS SUCH UNTREATED DIRECTLY FROM A DISCHARGE INTO SEA WATER

  • @leobav2425
    @leobav2425 Před 4 lety +13

    So the waste products just get dumped into the ocean ?...

    • @ashesmandalay1762
      @ashesmandalay1762 Před 4 lety +10

      After it is biologically treated to neutralize it.

    • @JimCTSCLO
      @JimCTSCLO Před 4 lety +9

      There is a comprehensive process of treatment that occurs before the final effluent is discharged into the ocean. There are many resources you can check and perhaps even contacting SFPUC would provide you with information on the outstanding work Megan and many, many, others do on a daily basis. The fact that you bothered to ask the question is also outstanding and hopefully more will.

    • @leobav2425
      @leobav2425 Před 4 lety +1

      @@JimCTSCLO when I seen the discharged methods, I thought where is the plant that makes the discharge safe ?....

    • @JimCTSCLO
      @JimCTSCLO Před 4 lety +3

      @@leobav2425 Two plants one on Great Highway next to Ocean Beach. One called Southeast Plant near Third and Phelps.

    • @argentosebastian
      @argentosebastian Před 4 lety +2

      Would be awesome to have a tour down there.

  • @rust-0hspray156
    @rust-0hspray156 Před 3 lety

    There's sewers underneath the city it is my job it's a fun job it feels good to be near the light of the tunnel water is not the only danger here but sea water could be bad for the tunnel
    Is that it okay cool video didn't explain too much or show about the tunnels

  • @BRANDON-FJB
    @BRANDON-FJB Před 3 lety +1

    Hear that? It's the ocean ....🤢🤢🤢

  • @kmbytt984
    @kmbytt984 Před 3 lety +1

    Began to be built during the gold rush??? Or it was already there and we simply inherited lies? Who made those millions of bricks?

    • @kmbytt984
      @kmbytt984 Před 3 lety

      @mermaid dream a good question is did they build the Erie Canal or simply clean it out of the mud.

  • @TheEDNC
    @TheEDNC Před 3 lety +2

    Jimmy Hoffa’s new digs... ?

  • @MichaelSnyder1776
    @MichaelSnyder1776 Před 3 lety +1

    I put it on 1.5x speed and she still talks slowly

  • @13DarkMelody
    @13DarkMelody Před 2 lety +1

    One of humanities biggest blunders; flushing human waste into our planets water.
    Human waste/animal waste should be buried in soil.
    Our world is dying.

  • @TheMrFlyBoy18
    @TheMrFlyBoy18 Před rokem

    You can make tea out of waste water if you find it really that satisfying. Good on you though

  • @johnnyblade1293
    @johnnyblade1293 Před 4 lety +5

    tunnel rats 🖤

  • @Albertangelo123
    @Albertangelo123 Před 3 lety +3

    The guy at 3:02 in the clip is super cute.

  • @hughgrection9439
    @hughgrection9439 Před 3 lety

    A brown water spelunker,if u will

  • @345mrse
    @345mrse Před 3 lety +5

    Did they find used condoms and empty amyl nitrate bottles?

    • @eastbaykidd8574
      @eastbaykidd8574 Před 3 lety +2

      You must be thinking of the Tunnel of Fudge under Polk Street.

  • @ralphturner3798
    @ralphturner3798 Před rokem

    It would have been better if you had been more accurate in your choice of words. I don't think that these very large tunnels "are under EVERY house and run along EVERY block."

  • @antn8387
    @antn8387 Před 3 lety

    we have the greatest infrastructure in the world!

  • @BreDawg714
    @BreDawg714 Před 3 lety +1

    That will a huge problem with sea level rise! The whole city will be in jeopardy. How is this catastrophic issue being ignored?

    • @trs4184
      @trs4184 Před 3 lety

      It's honestly not terrible. It'll be expensive, but we can move the outfalls and, in the worst cases, pump to a higher elevation

    • @royreynolds108
      @royreynolds108 Před 2 lety +1

      Sea level rise is a hoax and is meant to scare. It is NOT happening. There are areas where the land is sinking because of the removal of groundwater or other underground minerals.

    • @BreDawg714
      @BreDawg714 Před 2 lety

      @@royreynolds108 well…sea level has risen, like a inch every 100 years.

    • @HanginInSF
      @HanginInSF Před rokem +1

      Because the ocean is exactly where its always been.

  • @bennybonilla2864
    @bennybonilla2864 Před 3 lety

    I’m a little bay curious

  • @susanb6289
    @susanb6289 Před 3 lety

    2:41 what's with the tongue

  • @richietattersall2122
    @richietattersall2122 Před 4 lety +3

    NYC's is older, and it doesn't dump the waste directly into the ocean or the rivers unless there is so much rain the recycling plants can't deal with it.

    • @deusexme
      @deusexme Před 4 lety +16

      Same for San Francisco, if it wasn't clear. And they're not recycling plants, they're wastewater treatment plants (though some plants can recycle water back into public use).

    • @richietattersall2122
      @richietattersall2122 Před 4 lety +1

      @@deusexme Got it, I used the wrong name, 62 and epilepsy for the last 16 years has not helped my memory. I am dealing with the seziures, but the damage is already done.

    • @deusexme
      @deusexme Před 4 lety +3

      @@richietattersall2122 No harm done, and my sympathies for your condition.

    • @richietattersall2122
      @richietattersall2122 Před 4 lety +1

      @@deusexme Thanks, finally seeing the right Neurologist. That's all she deals with, I just found out yesterday that she has had epilepsy since her teens, that's why she has focused her whole life on dealing with it.

    • @deusexme
      @deusexme Před 4 lety

      @@richietattersall2122 best of luck. Getting the right help is a journey onto itself sometimes.

  • @bruceg1845
    @bruceg1845 Před 3 lety

    sewers! You can have them

  • @DeanStephen
    @DeanStephen Před 3 lety

    Why is it okay for San Francisco to dump untreated waste water into the ocean, but not okay for cruise ships to do the same?

    • @hmbanton
      @hmbanton Před 3 lety +2

      it is not OK and they spend Billions with a B to prevent it.

  • @ancientage6051
    @ancientage6051 Před rokem

    Watch out for the physcotic caca monster that is still running around like a mad man down there

  • @crashweaverda
    @crashweaverda Před 3 lety +2

    So your sewer system is not up to EPA code. Sewer and storm water are suppose to be separated.

  • @DTAP17
    @DTAP17 Před rokem

    Human trafficking

  • @suzellepalacios1982
    @suzellepalacios1982 Před 3 lety +1

    This is the most disappointing video ever. Lol like what?

  • @zerojee1
    @zerojee1 Před 3 lety

    @2:39 super cringe

  • @alexcarrillo5510
    @alexcarrillo5510 Před 3 lety

    A lot of Poo Gas..... Think about it - The next that you go drinking at those fancy $$$ Yuppie bars, and then you come home and contribute to the Sewer Taxes, as that is what your doing, and going there.... Again Think about it,

  • @cynthiawoodmancy2564
    @cynthiawoodmancy2564 Před 3 lety +1

    you all will get to see them up close and personal if a big quake hits the city again.

  • @CaliforniaFly
    @CaliforniaFly Před 4 lety

    Hey, let's go walk around in shit.

  • @jarrodyuki7081
    @jarrodyuki7081 Před 3 lety

    gentrify the city.

  • @massdisruption3437
    @massdisruption3437 Před 3 lety +2

    150 year old sewers,250 feet deep, cut thru granite like rock that looks like a cave, but has perfect 90’s. This is horse shat. There’s no way the time line for San Francisco is true. For population and for the buildings being built in the time they say they was built in.

    • @aquariandawn4750
      @aquariandawn4750 Před 3 lety +1

      Mud flood, very interesting topic.

    • @robertstewart4953
      @robertstewart4953 Před 3 lety +2

      What is your hypothesis? Are you saying the granite was cut before? I'm very interested in hearing your contention

    • @gunslingingbird74
      @gunslingingbird74 Před 3 lety +7

      @@robertstewart4953 He hasn't seen your message because his tin foil hat blocked the notification.

    • @jackmccann1291
      @jackmccann1291 Před 3 lety +2

      San Francisco is fake! Liberal Lie!

    • @robertstewart4953
      @robertstewart4953 Před 3 lety

      Still waiting...

  • @Yahootie
    @Yahootie Před 4 lety +5

    0:23 everyone looking at their damn phones. Nobody talks to one another anymore.
    Pathetic and sad what’s happened to society. Tech sucks.

  • @vilikatavuki6523
    @vilikatavuki6523 Před 3 lety

    Look at me, the Bay Area people plotted against me and I became many people's enemy.

  • @HARDL3FT
    @HARDL3FT Před 3 lety +2

    I think this chick is an actress.

  • @MegaShowmaster
    @MegaShowmaster Před 4 lety

    It sucks

  • @babygirl5299
    @babygirl5299 Před 3 lety

    Boooooo

  • @Jmoney-db4rp
    @Jmoney-db4rp Před rokem

    Is that how the Chinese come into our land?