this post was submitted on 10 Feb 2025
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What is this thing?

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This picture was taken on the Rio Grande River Valley, on the left side of the image is the river, the right side is the flood control ditch. I am guessing the purpose is when the river rises too high some underground pipes divert the extra water to this so it can drain into the flood control.

This image there is a second, black pipe visible that goes under the ditch road and empties into the ditch.

I would love to know what the grey pipe is called so I can look up a diagram of how they work exactly.

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[–] [email protected] 71 points 1 week ago (4 children)

It’s actually in practical engineering’s latest video. https://youtu.be/1ztGpGjO60o timestamp 6:40

It’s just an air vent.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 1 week ago

Knew this was gonna be here, Grady is awesome!

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 week ago

"I'm Grady, and you just read this in my voice."

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 week ago

Great! Thank you.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago

Well that was amazingly well done! Easy subscribe!

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 week ago

I don’t have any answer but I love this post. Super excited to come back later and find some 30min YouTube documentary breaking down exactly how this works 🤞

[–] Cooljimy84 10 points 1 week ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Sorry mate, it was already named Tony Pipes

[–] SpaceNoodle 9 points 1 week ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 week ago

Tony Pipes is now my mobster name.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 week ago

I'm pretty sure that 'stand pipe' is correct. It allows for pressure equalization. There's a lot to this topic. And I find it fascinating.

You could dig in over at https://www.abcwua.org/, they are the ones in charge of municipal water issues.

Also Cooperative Extension Service : Acequias of the Southwestern United States: Elements of Resilience in a Coupled Natural and Human System https://pubs.nmsu.edu/acequias/index.html

https://www.mrgcd.com/ - Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acequia

https://waterdesk.org/2024/10/can-new-mexicos-ancient-water-system-survive-climate-change/

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 week ago

I'm guessing it's a vent for an existing water line.
It serves...as a vent, to prevent a "suctioning" which could cause the pipe to rupture.
It could also act in reverse, as a relief, but that would depend on how it's valved.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 week ago

Maybe this will help your search, I think that may be some type of drainage vent, to prevent back pressure slowing down the flow of water in an underground drainage system

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I'm not sure if they have a more technical term for water management, but I believe that for aquariums you'd be looking at a standpipe. Here is a quick breakdown of that.

https://youtu.be/-lD-tgLnV8o?si=BR90Av-svvTt1kvC

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

I love aquariums and always wanted to set up a sump tank, thank you for the video.

[–] Tronn4 -1 points 1 week ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Also called a "gripe". Example usage: "I have a gripe with your comment." You know, I am literally drinking from a gray pipe while reading this.