UPDATE: New York City is taking drastic measures to tackle the aftermath of a major winter storm that dumped 12 inches of snow over the weekend. With snow still blocking bus stops and encasing cars, city officials have deployed hot tubs to melt the frozen mess, a plan that is already underway as of Wednesday morning.
The city’s Sanitation Department has strategically placed eight snow-melting hot tubs around the city, including one at the southern tip of Manhattan. This innovative approach aims to clear the city’s streets and sidewalks, which have become nearly impassable. The hot tub, known as the Trecan Combustion 60-PD Snowmelter, began operation shortly after its arrival on Tuesday.
According to Javier Lojan, acting sanitation commissioner, the pile of snow being processed was substantial enough to cover a football field. The hot tub works by melting snow into water, which is then funneled into an open sewer manhole. On Wednesday, a bright orange front-end loader was used to scoop up snow from the massive pile, with each load weighing around half a ton.
The process is efficient but requires constant monitoring. After warming up for 30 minutes, the machine has to take brief pauses every eight hours to prevent overheating, as explained by Joshua Goodman, a spokesman for the Sanitation Department.
As the city grapples with the lingering effects of the storm, residents are urged to remain patient as crews work tirelessly to restore normalcy. The hot tubs represent a significant effort to combat the immediate challenges posed by the winter weather, and city officials are optimistic about the results.
With more snow on the horizon, New Yorkers are watching closely to see how effective this snow-melting initiative will be. Stay tuned for further updates as the situation develops.
