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LISTEN: How A Refrigerator Gets Into A Manhole, And Other Raleigh Sewage Secrets

A manhole cover at night
Evan Blaser
/
Flickr/Creative Commons

Scott Huler explores city infrastructure for his new book, On the Grid. Listen to the stories of what's been found in Raleigh's sewers:

Here's an excerpt from the book:

Though most blockages are caused by grease or roots, the talk naturally turns to memorable clogs, and I hear about mops, golf clubs, firewood, riprap, and even a refrigerator that have had to be pulled out of manholes. Once a carpet remnant created a block so nasty it took most of a day to clear out. If you're on call and someone calls in a spill, especially one where the overflow is making its way toward a waterway, then it's showtime.

Scott's book is the third selection in The other titles the book club read were and .

The book club meets the third Wednesday of the month at the Halifax Community Center in Raleigh.

Rebecca Martinez produces podcasts at ¼ª²ÊÍøÍøÕ¾. She’s been at the station since 2013, when she produced Morning Edition and reported for newscasts and radio features. Rebecca also serves on ¼ª²ÊÍøÍøվ’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accountability (IDEA) Committee.
Eric Hodge hosts ¼ª²ÊÍøÍøվ’s broadcast of Morning Edition, and files reports for the North Carolina news segments of the broadcast. He started at the station in 2004 doing fill-in work on weekends and All Things Considered.
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