City Storm Water finds

DigEmAll

DigEmAll

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Aug 29, 2005
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Eastern UP, Michigan
Anyone ever hunted where the city storm drains stop being tunnels under the streets and start being ditches. Think of all those coins that fall through the grates. Any images of kids with bubble gum on the end of a long stick pop into your head? Check out the pic... that is all I am saying. ;D ;D ;D
 

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Some ID's...

The one that looks like a white spot is a Standing Liberty quarter dollar, worn almost smooth.
The quarter toward the top is a 44 silver. (the one just below and to the right of that is an 86 clad)
The nickel is a 1940.
The thing that looks like a black washer is some kind of token.
The two coppers at the top are 1927 and 1935.
The copper dirrectly below the silver quarter is a 1920.
Other notable mentions are 1907 IH, 1906 Liberty head dime, 1931 buffalo nickel, 1921 wheatie, 1898 "V" nickel, and a 1929 buffalo.

Still too good to hunt storm drains?? ;D
 

I would hunt the city sewer for finds like that! There are no older street drains such as that here. I did hunt a drainage ditch behind an old car wash/ laundry once. I pulled over three bucks from it. Good luck and HH! Chris
 

I have worked for the local Municipality for 13 years at the Sewage Treatment plant. I often hunt the grit piles, etc on the weekends and mainly find cents. Modern clad and early silver is too heavy to make down here, not enough head pressure to carry them, even in the force mains. I can definitely see how a storm drain would be better.
 

NICE finds -- did you place a MAN WORKING sign next to the drain so people wouldn't park on you?
 

Man what a haul! How did you get through all the trash?
 

:o Awesome finds!! I dont think there is anything like you describe around here. There are alot of drainage caps on the street though... Not sure how old they are, maybe theres a site on how to date drain covers ??? :D
 

By the way Southern Gent, I have driven past this location almost daily for more than three years now. ?I never had any thoughts about it being old until I was doing some research last Friday afternoon. ?Most people never give thought as to how old something like this might be. Anyway, I was reading up on another area and the author made a remark about a large ditch that was dug to carry off the storm waters when the city first started grading the roads in the 1910's. ?The ditch was dug to divert the water that was running down the roads and flooding the main part of town. ?Then in the 1920's culverts were made and drains put in the streets and the ditch was mostly covered over, leaving only the last bit as a ditch. ?There is another ditch like this on the other side of town, but I don't expect to find much there. ?It is still just a ditch and doesn't have the collection point (pit) that this one has.
 

Yeah Jake, if there are grates in the curbs, it has to empty out somewhere. I really doubt if it goes to the sewage treatment plant. Just think about it, everytime it REALLY rains, it would flood their ponds. Storm water HAS to go somewhere!!! ;) Just gotta figure out where that is! ;D
 

A few years back, I read an article about a major city (maybe Boston) pressure cleaning it's storm sewers. They immediately began finding old coins and there was even a suggestion that the coins might pay for the whole cleaning operation. Never heard another word about it.
My home town would be older than St. Augustine if it hadn't been burned down during the Seminole Wars, and wouldn't exist at all if not for three interlocking canals built to drain off the swamps. The main street is called Canal Street and is the end of the largest canal. The canals still exist, though in a greatly eroded form, and Canal Street was built over the old canal. The open end is tidal but I believe it is still accessable. Funny, I never ventured in there as a kid. (I hate spiders)
But now....

HH
BobJ
 

Please don't even think about going down into one of those drain pipes! Poison gas collects in pockets in them and it is deadly. It is also explosive and the slightest spark could set it off. Even the City workmen are sometimes overcome with poisonous gas when working on those drains. The sanitary sewer drain is the worse and it should be completely sealed except where it empties into the raw sewage processing plant. Storm drains on the other hand usually drain into holding ponds or reservoirs and are supposed to contain only water run off. But people pour all kinds of chemicals into them including household chemicals and even oil and gasoline. No telling what you might encounter in one of those drains. And, there's no telling what is in the water that runs out of the other end. I wouldn't go near one of those things without heavy rubber boots and one of those heavy duty filtration masks like they wear at hospitals in isolation rooms. When you get home you should rinse everything off and immediately wash your clothes and take a shower. A little over board? Perhaps, but you are risking your health and possibly the health of your family members who might become exposed to that crud on your clothing. Just think about it. JIMakaKs
 

One of the storm drains i know of drains right into my back yard! But i dont think any coins could be swept down it...If youv ever looked down one there is like a drop off before the pipe that takes the water out:(
 

lets_go said:
In my city, I think storm and sewer are the same thing. I'll need some protection for this one.
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Yes, as a Treatment Plant Operator, I would advise against entering a combined sewer. There are certain toxic gases that can Kill. ANd will killyou before you realize you're sick (Hydrogen Sulfide-the gas that gives the rotten egg odor). Please take my word for it! I want very much to continue reading your great posts!
 

kwikslvr said:
Please don't even think about going down into one of those drain pipes! Poison gas collects in pockets in them and it is deadly. It is also explosive and the slightest spark could set it off. Even the City workmen are sometimes overcome with poisonous gas when working on those drains. The sanitary sewer drain is the worse and it should be completely sealed except where it empties into the raw sewage processing plant. Storm drains on the other hand usually drain into holding ponds or reservoirs and are supposed to contain only water run off. But people pour all kinds of chemicals into them including household chemicals and even oil and gasoline. No telling what you might encounter in one of those drains. And, there's no telling what is in the water that runs out of the other end. I wouldn't go near one of those things without heavy rubber boots and one of those heavy duty filtration masks like they wear at hospitals in isolation rooms. When you get home you should rinse everything off and immediately wash your clothes and take a shower. A little over board? Perhaps, but you are risking your health and possibly the health of your family members who might become exposed to that crud on your clothing. Just think about it. JIMakaKs
Click to expand...

Sage advise, I have worked in the Municipality's treatment plant for a number of years, I have seen 3 professional die in my tenure.
 

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