Although apparently they often don't get removed. Because there's so much building work going on in Berlin that they just get extended to the next building site. Which is why they're everywhere.

It's not just for construction. The simplest way to describe their multi-purpose use throughout the city is that they move the water from an unwanted area to a desired area. They are extremely mobile and often appear seemingly overnight.

I spotted those in Berlin recently and was scratching my head trying to figure out what they were for - I knew it had something to do with building sites and it was temporary - just didn't know about the high groundwater issue! Thanks for filling us in!

They are often used to transport/re-route water when there is construction.

I was about to post the same thing. Arte (German-French television channel) once had a short segment on this, in a show called Karambolage, I think.

@Justme Asifyoudidntalreadyknow I was equally surprised.Two great channels for sure.

part of it comes from the fact that politicians love to build new infrastructure, they have fun opening ceremonies and ribon cutting photoshoots, but maintaining isn't as glamorous and politicians are really just the cliche popular kids from high school that never grew out of it. It is all about their own interests and popularity.

Kyle: That's interesting, because I don't see that too much in France, were we basically don't build anything new, but the roads are quite good, and electric and communication networks are mostly underground. When I went to Providence, RI, the mayor had an "investment plan" complete with advertisement to fix the pot holes (hint: maintenance is not investment), and I see overhead power lines everywhere I go in the US (including in New England, where the bad weather destroys them all the time). In France we don't really do big useful projects, we mostly build underused high speed train line.

+nraynaud1 often power cables and the like are put above ground due to cost factors. Here in the Netherlands, basically everything is underground because the ground is 'soft' (mostly sand, clay or just dirt) and the bedrock is very deep, which is easy to dig into. But in south Germany, Austria and (my home state) Minnesota, alot of the infrastructure is above ground due to the bedrock being relatively high and the costs that would accompany it if they had to chisel out the rock for the infrastructure.

inb4 "but they just want my tax dollars to waste" :) Maintenance is a huge issue and I'm glad it's brought forward here!

+nraynaud1 - Never expected to see Providence on here! I live in a town bordering the city!

RealLuckless actually it can be primarily for firefighters, due to a build up of snow.

I thought these were always so you didnt hit the hydrant with your snowplow

Where I live no one comes back to dig out the hydrants. They beg homeowners to do it.

Where I live the firefighters go around after it snows and dig out the hydrants. They have an online reporting system (which is used for more than just this) that you can use to report unshoveled hydrants, if the firefighters miss one or don't get to it, so a city crew can do it.

Speaking of which, around here, some cities have taped plastic bags over their hydrants in the last couple winters. I assume that's so they don't get rusted shut by road salt in the plowed snow.

look like sensor. but more likely a water content sensor on conductivity/oxygen sensor...

Can you give an example for what is that data needed?

Conductivity and oxygen content can be indicators of high nitrogen inflows such as raw sewage or high fertilizer runoff. These conditions can cause massive toxic algae blooms in short order. The oxygen content can indicate the blooms as well since the algae will gobble up the dissolved oxygen at night which leads to sea life die offs. This information is important especially around seaside cities. If dangerous algae become prevalent red tide warnings can be posted so fisherman and shellfish gatherers know not to eat what they catch. The data can also be used to monitor the efficacy and efficiency of the sewage treatment systems in the area. I hope this clarifies a few things about water monitoring in shallow water. Sensors and test stations above the low tide line are helpful because they can be easily serviced and cleaned. And samples can be removed at predictable times if the station is so equipped.

No, this is PEM - Pressure Equalizing Modules ecoshore.com/technology/

Could also be a seawater intake if there is an aquarium nearby. Seaside, Oregon used to have something similar.

Do you know that for a fact? It might be a temporary fresh water line to bypass a construction site.

0MoTheG Nope. The groundwater level in Berlin is quite high so this is a pretty common technique there.

or sewer

Ryan O'Horo they should be reclaiming it as landfill gas! It's a useful fuel, and it's better than venting it off to the atmosphere and contributing to Global Warming

That dirt you track indoors on your shoes is useful potting soil! You should reclaim it and grow flowers to beautify your environment! Point is, not all technically valid statements are practical.

Mildly Amusing Channel it isn't practical as it wastes more resources and emissions capturing the waste methane than is reclaimed via that process.it would be self defeating to do it to be eco-friendly.

Methane from buried landfill is reclaimed and use to run small power stations. I have seen it lots of times.

@@taumctauface1886 Dangerous myth.

Your English was perfect. Though we would usually say "then goes", "goes then" is more archaic.

You are right. It is a photo from the U5 construction site in Berlin. They are digging up to 25m below surface while the ground water is around 2-3m below surface. These blue pipes are used to dispose the water and in addition ice is used to stop the water flow.

You would certainly be notified of leaks quickly.

Then shitty drivers would become, shitty people. If you know what I mean XD

Braeden Hamson I know ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

A down side to above ground gravity networks is pumping to get it up in the first place.

No shit eh ;)

Three minutes lol

**Two hours later:**

Alaska Skidood i installed underground gas mains for decades. The tracer wire, what you are referring to, is used to locate a plastic main that is not conductive by hooking to the wire instead of the pipe. However, you are installing it incorrectly and in a dangerous way. The tracer wire needs to be 12” minimum directly above the gas main and not touching it. If the wire is touching it a lightening strike to anything near by can melt the plastic main and possibly cause an explosion.

@@michaelspano6127 we put ours below with 3-4 inches of sand cushion between the pipe and tracers wire. Never touching the pipe.

I think that's a good guess. I've never seen something like it. It seems quite exposed to be permanent.

The pipe simply leads back into the ocean to protect the beaches from erosion - at high tide some of the water will flow back through these pipes instead of flowing over the sand :)

LazerLord10 By letting some of the water flow directly back to sea, the sand it carries is left on the beach.

Chris Bradley well obviously!

In reality it most likely is a sweet water overspill that pumps rainwater from land to sea

PHMSA also has a map of utilities but it's mostly secret for security.

We have a similar system in Quebec called INFO-Excavation

In the US, depending on the state, it is called Dig-Safe, or 1-Call, or Miss Utility.

lol

Not necessarily sue, but there’s always the question about who’s responsible for the damage. I work for a natural gas utility and regularly (read, sometimes for an entire week) have to go out and locate our lines for others who will be digging. Between steel and plastic lines, sometimes bad records, and several utilities placed close together, it can be quite the stressful task with terrible consequences of it’s done incorrectly.

Shannariano That is so true.

Thank you for watching them! :)

I really do have a lot of projects in the works, just none that have wrapped up yet :)

So you're saying that you're an engineer :P

+Nevin Williams lol I like it.

How's your civil engineer degree coming along! Should be almost done now, right?

Sweden too.

zero_sum that profile pic though 👌