UPDATE: New York City is tackling the aftermath of a severe winter storm by deploying hot tubs to melt the remaining snow. Just three days after snowfall blanketed the city, officials are taking urgent action to clear the streets and restore normalcy.
As of early Wednesday morning, patches of snow still obstruct bus stops, encase parked cars, and turn crosswalks into narrow paths. With around 12 inches of snow accumulated over the weekend, the Sanitation Department is leveraging a unique solution: the Trecan Combustion 60-PD Snowmelter. This innovative machine, resembling a bright orange hot tub, was strategically placed at the southern tip of Manhattan.
According to Javier Lojan, acting sanitation commissioner, the snow collected in this area is enough to cover a football field. The hot tub arrived from a city garage on Tuesday morning, and it took just 30 minutes to warm up, as reported by Joshua Goodman, a spokesman for the Sanitation Department.
Throughout the day, the machine remained operational, pausing only every eight hours to prevent overheating. The process involves a front-end loader, which scoops up half a ton of snow at a time, dropping it into the snowmelter. As the snow enters the tub, it transforms into steam, and a stream of brown water flows into a nearby sewer.
This creative approach highlights the city’s commitment to swiftly addressing winter weather challenges. With immense amounts of snow still on the streets, the use of hot tubs is not just a quirky solution—it’s a necessary measure to ensure public safety and accessibility.
Residents are encouraged to remain patient as the city works around the clock to address the snow accumulation. The Sanitation Department is expected to continue using these machines until the last remnants of winter are cleared away.
Stay tuned for further updates on this innovative snow removal strategy.
