28 votes

What's in the subway water that drips on your head? A semi-scientific inquiry.

16 comments

  1. Maxi
    Link
    A little underwhelming as they didn’t test for bacteria or viruses.

    A little underwhelming as they didn’t test for bacteria or viruses.

    16 votes
  2. [13]
    Carighan
    Link
    Subways have water that drips on your head? O.o Because my city features both subways and what feels like rain ~410-415 days a year, and I have not seen that.

    Subways have water that drips on your head? O.o Because my city features both subways and what feels like rain ~410-415 days a year, and I have not seen that.

    5 votes
    1. [10]
      Sodliddesu
      Link Parent
      Most subways in the Northeastern US have some type of drip, in my anecdotal experience.

      Most subways in the Northeastern US have some type of drip, in my anecdotal experience.

      3 votes
      1. [9]
        sparksbet
        Link Parent
        ...are there more than two? It's just NYC and Boston, right?

        ...are there more than two? It's just NYC and Boston, right?

        1 vote
        1. [6]
          boredop
          Link Parent
          Philadelphia, Newark and Washington DC also have subways.

          Philadelphia, Newark and Washington DC also have subways.

          4 votes
          1. [5]
            sparksbet
            Link Parent
            I don't think you can realistically call Washington DC part of the Northeast, but fair enough, I didn't know about Newark and Philly

            I don't think you can realistically call Washington DC part of the Northeast, but fair enough, I didn't know about Newark and Philly

            1 vote
            1. [4]
              boredop
              Link Parent
              DC and Baltimore are part of Amtrak's northeast corridor so I tend to lump them in with NYC, Philly, Boston, etc.

              DC and Baltimore are part of Amtrak's northeast corridor so I tend to lump them in with NYC, Philly, Boston, etc.

              7 votes
              1. [3]
                sparksbet
                Link Parent
                Ah yeah I forgot about the Northeast corridor. DC and Baltimore have always been solidly "south" in my mind. But I'm from northern Ohio so honestly anything south of New York doesn't really feel...

                Ah yeah I forgot about the Northeast corridor. DC and Baltimore have always been solidly "south" in my mind. But I'm from northern Ohio so honestly anything south of New York doesn't really feel northeast to me.

                1 vote
                1. [2]
                  LorenzoStomp
                  Link Parent
                  While we are below the Mason-Dixon line, most people in MD don't really consider ourselves Southern (and people in the actual South really don't consider us Southern). We identify a lot more with...

                  While we are below the Mason-Dixon line, most people in MD don't really consider ourselves Southern (and people in the actual South really don't consider us Southern). We identify a lot more with the Mid-Atlantic and focus on our bay and beach culture over our latitude. We were a slave state, but we never seceded from the US and we had far more soldiers in the Union army than Confederate. Which unfortunately has not resulted in a lack of modern day "history buffs" using the rebel flag to decorate their F-150s, but you're far more likely to see someone wearing matching MD flag baseball cap, bowling shirt, and basketball shorts (and socks with slides!), aka the MD Tuxedo.

                  3 votes
                  1. sparksbet
                    Link Parent
                    Ah yeah completely understandable, I did mean lowercase-s southern rather than capital-S Southern fwiw. Coincidentally though, just was listening to a podcast where two of the hosts were from...

                    Ah yeah completely understandable, I did mean lowercase-s southern rather than capital-S Southern fwiw. Coincidentally though, just was listening to a podcast where two of the hosts were from Maryland and arguing about whether they were Southern lol. Seems similar in circumstances to Kentucky in how you describe it, with kind of a mixed border state identity.

        2. [2]
          Sodliddesu
          Link Parent
          I believe so but I think I meant stations when I said subways - it was late last night. You understand.

          I believe so but I think I meant stations when I said subways - it was late last night. You understand.

          1. sparksbet
            Link Parent
            Ah makes more sense that way.

            Ah makes more sense that way.

    2. [2]
      boredop
      Link Parent
      Most of New York's subway system is at least 75 years old, with the oldest stations dating to 1904. There are a lot of leaks, and maintenance hasn't been well funded through the decades.

      Most of New York's subway system is at least 75 years old, with the oldest stations dating to 1904. There are a lot of leaks, and maintenance hasn't been well funded through the decades.

      3 votes
      1. sparksbet
        Link Parent
        This part should be in bold. Even in NYC, where public transit is by far better than most of the US, it's sorely neglected compared to the support it should be getting. Berlin's U-bahn is older*...

        maintenance hasn't been well funded through the decades.

        This part should be in bold. Even in NYC, where public transit is by far better than most of the US, it's sorely neglected compared to the support it should be getting. Berlin's U-bahn is older* but doesn't have a drip problem, but it's also much better maintained. (but don't rest on your laurels BVG it could be much better 😠)

        *Metro trivia time! Ignore if you don't care. The station at Potsdamer Platz was first opened in 1902 apparently! However, it was closed for a period during the Cold War for Berlin reasons, becoming a "ghost station" until it was reopened after the Wall fell. If you're curious about Berlin's weird transit history when it was split, I highly recommend this very well-researched video by David Frankel.

        5 votes
  3. Raspcoffee
    Link
    Now that's an intriguing but almost useless analysis. I've rarely seen the water drips here in the Netherlands but I was curious what it is. Of course, who knows if it's the same kind of drips?...

    Now that's an intriguing but almost useless analysis. I've rarely seen the water drips here in the Netherlands but I was curious what it is.

    Of course, who knows if it's the same kind of drips? Shame I don't have the time or material to test for it.

    5 votes
  4. nemo
    Link
    Well I for one am reassured.

    Well I for one am reassured.