Sometimes I wonder if placing all this important infrastructure under ground was a big mistake. Seems like issues like this and the Flint water crisis would be alot easier to remediate if the pipes were easily accessible.
Something I’d like to see more of is utility tunnels where all utilities are undergrounded in a single tunnel with with easy access. Yes it’s expensive, but could work out in the long run. Just look at how much utility relocation can drive up the cost for simple projects like BRT.
While disgusting...this would have the side effect of those being repaired very quickly I imagine.
Trench and cover, probably with streets.
But it would create a lot of extra void to maintain that would need its own drainage, maintenance to keep it free of debris and pests, inspections to make sure they don't collapse, and security to keep people out. Feasibility is probably commensurate with urban density.
You've just described the Paris sewer system, where the sewage tunels also house fresh water, power, comms…
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/wRHK1kkKpNBXt4WWuCQW...
Also more accessible to damage from vandals and car crashes. And they would freeze in winter. And they would expand/contract with temperature changes, leading to increased cracking etc. The only places that use above ground water/sewer pipes are those with unsupportive soils such as permafrost or deep sand that would cause breaks.
Yes, maintenance gets more expensive, but that maintenance should be far less frequent. And hopefully more predictable (true maintenance vs emergency repair).
I'll take the odd risk of contamination and excavator-induced failure over fragile and inconsistent infrastructure every day.
I'd imagine a lot more problems would occur if pipes were exposed to the elements, for example.
And of course, the issue of where to put the pipes when they're above ground.