5 Treasures Found in Sewers
Posted by By JustinC at 5 November, at 10 : 59 AM Print
Loose coins, false teeth, toys and marbles are among some of the common treasures lost down the drain. However, far more valuable treasures have been found in sewers across the country.
Here are five true stories of sewer treasures.
1. A sewer worker found a $6,000 diamond wedding ring that a Boise woman had lost 18 months prior. She was able to claim the one of a kind, seven-diamond ring when it was turned in to City Hall. She proved it was hers with a wedding photo and a copy of the appraisal from the jeweler who made the unique ring.
2. Another reunion miracle happened in Pleasant Gap, Pennsylvania, when a man lost both his wedding band and Timex watch after his young son flushed them down the toilet. The dad recovered his belongings a year later and 3,000 feet away.
3. A couple from Grand Rapids, Michigan watched a plumber rescue the $7000 engagement ring from the inner workings of the toilet before it made it to the sewer. The resourceful plumber used a wire hanger, cable and fiber optic camera to retrieve the ring.
4. Another woman was miraculously reunited with two $10,000 rings that she accidentally flushed down the toilet. She had placed the rings in a Kleenex for safety before mistaking them for soiled tissues and tossing them in the toilet. Sanitation workers found the jewelry in the sewer and reunited them with the owner.
5. One of the highest dollar value treasures documented was a $26,000 diamond ring found in the sewers of Orange County, California. The 3.78-carat ring went unclaimed for a year before going to public auction.
Typically, if a sewer worker finds any valuables in the drains most cities require them to turn in the goods to the city for a period of time for the owner to claim it. If it goes unclaimed it typically goes to auction. However, there is a group of sewer treasure hunters of sorts who rummage through the sewers to pan for loose diamonds and other valuables.
Charlie Little, waste water operator of Arkansas, supplements his income as a sewer treasure hunter. He tells of a time when he was checking the lines in his town when he noticed a small sparkle in the sunlight. He had found a 3/4 carat diamond that had fallen from a woman’s ring. He continued to pull the grit from the three short sections of sewer line where he was inspecting creek crossings. Panning for valuables, he recovered 31 loose stones and a good amount of gold in the form of lost teeth. (How do you lose a tooth down the toilet? Is this something I need to worry about?) He has since installed a small Yukon Rocker Box to speed up the collection process. He does give a word of caution. When treasure hunting, he says to be aware of pins, needles, broken glass and other sharp objects among the grit. (And you thought John Wayne had True Grit.)
5 Treasures Found in Sewers | It Thing!
Posted by By JustinC at 5 November, at 10 : 59 AM Print
Loose coins, false teeth, toys and marbles are among some of the common treasures lost down the drain. However, far more valuable treasures have been found in sewers across the country.
Here are five true stories of sewer treasures.
1. A sewer worker found a $6,000 diamond wedding ring that a Boise woman had lost 18 months prior. She was able to claim the one of a kind, seven-diamond ring when it was turned in to City Hall. She proved it was hers with a wedding photo and a copy of the appraisal from the jeweler who made the unique ring.
2. Another reunion miracle happened in Pleasant Gap, Pennsylvania, when a man lost both his wedding band and Timex watch after his young son flushed them down the toilet. The dad recovered his belongings a year later and 3,000 feet away.
3. A couple from Grand Rapids, Michigan watched a plumber rescue the $7000 engagement ring from the inner workings of the toilet before it made it to the sewer. The resourceful plumber used a wire hanger, cable and fiber optic camera to retrieve the ring.
4. Another woman was miraculously reunited with two $10,000 rings that she accidentally flushed down the toilet. She had placed the rings in a Kleenex for safety before mistaking them for soiled tissues and tossing them in the toilet. Sanitation workers found the jewelry in the sewer and reunited them with the owner.
5. One of the highest dollar value treasures documented was a $26,000 diamond ring found in the sewers of Orange County, California. The 3.78-carat ring went unclaimed for a year before going to public auction.
Typically, if a sewer worker finds any valuables in the drains most cities require them to turn in the goods to the city for a period of time for the owner to claim it. If it goes unclaimed it typically goes to auction. However, there is a group of sewer treasure hunters of sorts who rummage through the sewers to pan for loose diamonds and other valuables.
Charlie Little, waste water operator of Arkansas, supplements his income as a sewer treasure hunter. He tells of a time when he was checking the lines in his town when he noticed a small sparkle in the sunlight. He had found a 3/4 carat diamond that had fallen from a woman’s ring. He continued to pull the grit from the three short sections of sewer line where he was inspecting creek crossings. Panning for valuables, he recovered 31 loose stones and a good amount of gold in the form of lost teeth. (How do you lose a tooth down the toilet? Is this something I need to worry about?) He has since installed a small Yukon Rocker Box to speed up the collection process. He does give a word of caution. When treasure hunting, he says to be aware of pins, needles, broken glass and other sharp objects among the grit. (And you thought John Wayne had True Grit.)
5 Treasures Found in Sewers | It Thing!
