TOKYOS UNDERGROUND STORM DRAIN

Located on the outskirts of Tokyo, behind a small government building, underneath a soccer field and skateboard park, is an
incredibly huge storm sewer system, built to protect the citys 13 million residents from heavy rai nfall and tropical storm
floods. The official name of these long, underground tunnels is the Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge
Channel, but is more commonly called G-Cans. Built between 1992 and 2006, at the cost of $3 billion, this huge
underground water management system comprises of 6.4 km of tunnels up to 50 meters underground connecting 5 giant
silos, 65 meters tall and 32 meters wide, to one massive tank the Temple.

The Temple. Photo: Michael Johngrist

The Underground Temple is the most impressive feature of G-Cans, that has been used as an atmospheric backdrop in
various films and dramas. This giant metal reservoir measures 25.4 meters by 177 meters by 78 meters and is supported by
59 gargantuan pillars. Flood water from the citys waterways are collected through the tunnels and into the silos. When these
fill, water from the silos works its way through a series of tunnels and into the massive Underground Temple. From there,
four turbines powered by jet engines, pump out 200 cubic meters or 53,000 gallons of water per second into the Edo River.
The utility of such a colossal drainage system is debated by some people. According to Tokyos Central Disaster
Management Council, if rainfall totaling 550 millimeters over three days hits Tokyo, causing the Arakawa river in Kita Ward to
overflow its banks, then up to 97 subway stations would be flooded. That is however a once-in-200 years event, but one that
G-Cans would help to drain away.
The G-Cans project is an incredible engineering feat and strangely beautiful too, and therefore a fascinating tourist
destination. When not flooded, tours are conducted twice a day, from Tuesday to Friday. Unfortunately, the tour is conducted
only in Japanese. Make sure to bring an interpreter.

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TRADUCCIN:
Situado en las afueras de Tokio, detrs de un pequeo edificio de gobierno, debajo de un campo
de ftbol y parque de skate, es un sistema de alcantarillado pluvial increblemente enorme,
construdo para proteger a 13 millones de habitantes de la ciudad de las lluvias torrenciales y las
inundaciones de tormenta tropical. El nombre oficial de estos largos tneles subterrneos, es "rea
Metropolitana Outer Underground Discharge Channel", pero es comnmente llamado G-Cans.
Construido entre 1992 y 2006, a un costo de $ 3 mil millones, este enorme sistema de gestin del
agua subterrnea comprende de 6,4 km de tneles de hasta 50 metros de conexin subterrnea 5
silos gigantes, de 65 metros de altura y 32 metros de ancho, con un depsito masivo - el Templo.
El "Templo Underground" es la caracterstica ms impresionante de los G-Cans, que se ha sido
utilizado como teln de fondo en varias pelculas y obras de teatro. Este embalse gigante de metal
mide 25,4 metros por 177 metros por 78 metros y est sostenida por 59 pilares gigantescos. El
agua de inundacin de las vas fluviales de la ciudad son recogidas a travs de los tneles y en los
silos. Cuando stos se llenan, el agua de los silos se abre camino a travs de una serie de tneles
y en el llamado "Underground Temple". A partir de ah, cuatro turbinas accionadas por motores a
reaccin, bombean 200 metros cbicos de agua por segundo en el ro Edo.
El proyecto del G-Can es una hazaa increble de ingeniera y extraamente hermosa tambin, y
por lo tanto un destino turstico fascinante. Cuando no est inundada, las visitas turisticas se llevan
a cabo dos veces al da, de martes a viernes.