Steamy Streets

"'District Steam Service' is unique among New York's infrastructural systems for the relative ease with which the public can help maintain it. For this reason, digging a little deeper into how steam, in particular, works is especially instructive. Sure, you or I could help maintain underground water pipes or electrical cables by reporting hidden failures, but their invisibility makes this difficult. So while we wait for technological advances that will make this possible in the future, we should take notice of the fact that the steam system already presents ways to involve the public: unlike the electrical grid, no special tools or sensors are needed to detect leaking steam. I'm convinced that public involvement in the management of infrastructure will become a key part of the future work of deregulated utility companies such as Con Edison. But before we get there, we could all use a little more awareness about how the city's infrastructure works. And steam is a good place to start."