Report - Abbey Tunnel Sewer - Leicester - June 2013

[Daniel w hulmes]

If I remember correctly, the main pipe is 8ft diameter. But it is not walkable, I wouldn't attempt it anyway. The flow is deep and strong, the current could take your legs from under you.
A few years back I did a different part of the system which was brick egg and we struggled with the flow. We headed back upstream to the manhole we entered, and we kept having to clear the 'debris' from our feet. Very dangerous, and exhausting.
If you want drains in the Leicester area, gimme a shout and I'll show you round.

I remember going down the brick section in around Belgrave and seeing the chamber for the syphon under the river,definitely not one you want to loose your footing in esp where it pops out the other end of the river

 

[Rosary_Boy]

Once again another long overdue report..

Back in the early 90s Severn Trent Water was tendering contracts for the upgrade of the sewer system in Leicester. Most of the trunk sewers in Leicester were Victorian built and aging quite badly and were for the most part struggling to keep up with demand. This led to a number of deep level tunk and intercepting sewers to take our citys poo up north away from the city.

Now sewers are not everyones cup of tea but in Leicester a vast amount of surface water goes into our sewer system so they are not quite as icky as people might think and it only takes a minute to get used to the smell. Of course sewers are a completely different ball game than storm drains. Water levels can rise rapidly not just due to rain but due to system automation, storm tanks releasing or storage chambers being pumped into the main trunks. And then there is the air quality, Level of oxygen, Methane, Hydrogen Sulphide etc. And then there is the bacteria and parasites that can make you ill too.

So that being said, I have known about the sewer upgrades in Leicester since I was a kid but the only section I knew about was what was called "Abbey Sewer" which you really want a boat to go down as its pretty deep. How ever in close proximity to the entrance to button hole there are 2 curiously large manholes in the middle of a park. There was a sewery smell coming out of them. Now although we have lifted them before this was the first time we properly took a good look.

We choose not to go for a proper wonder with out the right gas detecting equipment and waders etc etc. How ever Myself and nightvision went in and got some shots. So here is a few photos of which we intend to explore in more detail once the proper equipment is acquired. (NightVision took the photos looking up and down the main pipe)

We have done a lot more since this report along with LeicesterUrbanXP and JuJu, so there is yet more stuff to come from this network.

cracking photos, you wouldnt wana go down there on ya own fuck that

 

[Daniel w hulmes]

If I remember correctly, the main pipe is 8ft diameter. But it is not walkable, I wouldn't attempt it anyway. The flow is deep and strong, the current could take your legs from under you.
A few years back I did a different part of the system which was brick egg and we struggled with the flow. We headed back upstream to the manhole we entered, and we kept having to clear the 'debris' from our feet. Very dangerous, and exhausting.
If you want drains in the Leicester area, gimme a shout and I'll show you round.

Are you still doing much around leic buddy?