Musée des Égouts de Paris
Visiting the sewers of Paris means diving into the intestines of the city and exploring its hidden realms. Intimately linked to the architectural evolution of the streets of the capital, the sewers museum offers a way to discover the history of this network. Pedestrians in the upper world walk on the sewer plates while barely paying any attention to the underground world below them. But does one truly know what is going on down there?
Who would have thought that a family vacation to Paris would lead us to the city's subterranean world? Yet, there we were, descending into the depths of the Paris Sewer Museum, an unexpected adventure that left us both fascinated and a bit grossed out.
Well, not me. For me it was celebrating all the all things sewer and water treatment that I spent the last eight years researching and writing about in MeSseD comics.
It was a pleasure to “follow the flush” and learn more about the centuries of sewers in the roots of Paris.
Our kids were particularly fascinated by the interactive exhibits and the chance to learn about the science behind sewers and wastewater treatment that characters Lilliput and Akka have been dealing with in MeSseD.
Our visit to the Paris Sewer Museum was a truly unforgettable experience. It's a must-see for anyone interested in history, engineering, or simply curious about the infrastructure that keeps The City of Lights running. So, the next time you're in Paris, don't be afraid to venture beneath the streets and discover the hidden wonders of the city's sewer system.
Translation :
Drinking Water: A Resource that Always Needs to be Protected
Half of the drinking water consumed in Paris is captured in the Seine and Marne and the other half comes from groundwater from natural sources. It is drawn up to more than 150 km from the capital. After transport and treatment, water is stored in 5 tanks. Controlled on average 10 times between the source and the tap, its quality is considered excellent. Although water consumption decreased from the 1990s in the Paris region, it remains a precious asset to be protected thanks to adapted withdrawals and the strengthening of the fight against leaks.
Featured above are some pieces of equipment that is used in sewers. In the first image, the balls present are used to unblock tunnels, as they are dropped in, then roll down the tunnel until they hit the obstruction. From there, water builds up behind the ball and creates a high pressure jet between the ball and the wall, which removes the obstruction. The second image shows some sort of locomotive and the third image shows a contraption, both of which were used for sewer maintenance.
Translation :
Boat Valve
Designed to cure large collectors, the valve boat is retained by two chains hung on rings anchored in the masonry of the work. Moved by the force of the accumulated water that causes a hunting effect, this machine maneuvered by a team of six to eight people progresses by stroke as a sewer frees the links from the chains. After each cleaning campaign, it is restored in the workshop.
A really interesting discovery was made with this weird and creepy wall art! It appears to be some sort of rat-roach-scorpion hybrid creature with blue fur, purple skin, and red eyes. Maybe this is some mythical creature said to be roaming the dirty sewers... Or maybe this creature will make an appearance in MeSseD Comics...
Translation :
Desilting Basin
The collectors open at regular intervals on wider and deeper basins, intended to receive the sands. Also, the different cleaning machines push solids towards these sinks. The sands are grouped and stored there before they are evacuated from the network.
Translation :
Equipment, Risks
From the beginning, sewer workers seek to protect themselves from sanitary linen. 150 years ago, the equipment was limited to a simple cap and a work overalls. With the increased awareness of the hygiene and safety of workers, equipment evolves, really corresponding to the risks faced by sewer workers. Over the decades, knowledge of the dangers specific to this environment have increased, especially those of wastewater, with the bacteria and viruses they carry, deadly or explosive gases, likely to develop in confined spaces of accidents underground. Thus, an adapted response was built, based on the principle of risk prevention.
Research by Victor Kirkbride and Jay B. Kalagayan
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