nyc’s steam system — Truman Boyes

I was thousands of miles away from manhattan when I typed in news.google.com and read the top news story surrounding the steam pipe explosion on 41st street in manhattan island. Then I started thinking, that although I had lived and worked in NYC, and been accustom to steam leaking from the manholes and hearing stories about manhole covers popping off into the air or damaging taxis, I had no knowledge about what that steam was used for; ie. was it a byproduct or was it intentially created for some purpose.

It turns out that there are advanced (and quite old) steam systems in place to heat skyscrapers, including the empire state building, and these systems cover the island from Battery park to 96th street. The new york city steam system is the largest in the world. There are 7 steam plants in Manhattan, one of these being ConEdison’s 14th street plant, that heats water vapor to 1000 degrees Farenheit.

It tuns out that the steam that seeps from manhole covers has nothing to do with the steam heating system. This seeping steam from manholes and the sewer system is from water hitting hot equipment and other pipes in the subterranean systems.

Originally published on truman.net. See the archived copy.