Is NON-BUOYANT WATER Deadly?

One of the scariest warning signs I've ever seen warns of "non-buoyant" or aerated water that you will ALWAYS sink in. But is it actually dangerous?
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[@jaxoncanseeyou]

My dad works at a wastewater treatment plant and one of his coworkers fell in. He didn't drown but he did immediately have to be placed on large amounts of a broad spectrum of antibiotics because of all the microbes. He didn't develop any disease though so it all worked out

[@larryleventhal1148]

When I worked in a dirty water plant you would get a flu like infection at the beginning of working there, then after that colds and the flu would just bounce right off you.

[@jaxoncanseeyou]

@@larryleventhal1148 my dad rarely got sick before but yeah he says that he thinks he's got a stronger immune system after working there. I guess it makes sense if you consider being exposed to way more things outside of a person to person transition scenario

[@jruler93]

Yeah. Even if the risk of drowning isn't any higher, you still generally want to avoid falling into wastewater.

[@VanessaCamburao]

heard of a guy in the same situation Every orifice of his body had to be sterilized

[@joshhite2558]

I worked at a Textron wastewater plant a couple of months ago and the grading fell through and I went into the clarifier... No antibiotics or anything else was needed even though I got a giant gash in my left forearm and neck. Needless to say I quit 9 days later.

[@chriskallen1]

Being a chemical engineer, I've visited several waste treatment facilities. I've warned my colleagues about not entering aeration tanks. The response was usually something like, "Gee, thanks, Chris. I was just about to jump into an ocean of s---, and you stopped me from doing that!"

[@exaltx9406]

Gee, thanks, Chris. I was just about to enter an aeration tank, and you stopped me from doing that!

[@amethyst1826]

But, there's always some numpty that needs that warning!!

[@thedevilsworkshop7720]

Well someone would probably take a swim in it . Curiosity and the cat and all that .

[@AlexanderTheGoodEnough]

Challenge accepted

[@connorwaits6575]

Intelligence and common sense aren't the same thing :P

[@matthewwong3451]

I work at a wastewater treatment plant, the most dangerous thing when falling into any tanks is the oxygen displacement from various gases produced from the waste. We had someone die from falling into the sludge tank and even though it was only chest deep he died from asphyxiation.

[@kekistanimememan170]

I imagine H2S is a big risk?

[@jemdragons3120]

Thats messed up

[@AHD2105]

Ewe we had pig poo processing system for our piggery on our farm (had other stock as well) but the first tank had maggots so huge you coukd see their eyes. We were always told to stay clear that we would die if we fell in. So gross.

[@mistertagnan]

There have been cases on boats’ anchor chain lockers of people dying from asphyxiation due to the lack of oxygen from the chains rusting. Pretty sure it happened on the USS Marblehead, but I know that isn’t the only example

[@GreatWhite00000]

Killed by the stench

[@rickyh2896]

Hi, hello, ex diver here (Like diving boards with flips and sh*t). Anyway we actually put aerators in the bottom of the dive tank during practice for a few reasons! 1 it lets you see the surface of the water easier, and 2 if you mess up your flips and belly flop from 3 meters high the water is quite broken up (less surface tension and lots of air bubbles) it hurts a lot less. Pretty cool stuff! Aerated water definitely feels different but you can swim in it!

[@1TwistedPoet]

Water is softer than concrete... but only a LITTLE softer. Especially from 3 or 5 metres.

[@wittyjoker4631]

Would depend on the volume of air in the water. I'm betting you guys don't crank out the bubbles like a waste treatment center.

[@Byvenic]

@@1TwistedPoet You're not wrong, but the difference between them is so small that one would have to go to extremes to actually see a visible difference... and at that point you're dead either way.

[@Ethan.YT.]

I bellyfloped on water and it hurts

[@boiledelephant]

I choose to believe "flips and shit" was a lonely island reference.

[@dominionokno5000]

I work at a sewage treatment plant and I have to say that I'd still be scared to fall into one. Not because of the buoyancy, neither because of the germs, but because of the crazy current from the inlets and zero visibility. If your eyes sink under the surface, there is almost no way to know which way to swim.

[@darksu6947]

Talk about a shitty day

[@twill5626]

Well then it’s your lucky day, because you can’t swim anyway. Lol

[@evanreed9684]

yeah there are storys of sewage treatment plant divers going into these tanks that havent been sectioned off propally and getting sucked into holes (with metal and rubber fully encapsulating dive suits) that are 10's of cm in diamiter

[@benwagner5089]

Exactly. A sudden change in environment as you fall in, a strong current you're trying to swim against, and a less-buoyant fluid than normal. The warning signs for these tanks is effectively the same as those at the beach warning of riptide currents.

[@crum167]

The plant I work at has huge metal scrapers that go along the bottom(like a treadmill) Someone fell in a died before I started work there. No one knows what killed him though

[@Ganbalf]

non-bouyant water is also one of the theories regarding some of the happenings in the bermuda triangle. The theory is essentially that methane gas pockets build beneath the sludge and then release beneath ships, causing them to become less bouyant, capsizing them. I should add that this is something that doesn't have to be specific to the bermuda triangle, considering that it doesn't seem to be a statistical anomaly in the first place(in reference to the number of disappearances). It's just a theory that has been tied to the bermuda triangle for "reasons".

[@justarandomanimegirlpassin5341]

Gandalf the legend himself

[@bandersong4650]

That’s honestly crazy to consider.

[@davidmoore1253]

Actually nothing unusual happens in the Bermuda triangle. Numerous studies have shown that the rate of accidents and disappearances in that area is no different from any sea area of comparable size and traffic.

[@jakes.house.]

Gandalf what the hell

[@nekogod]

Came to say this, remember watching a really good documentary about it.

[@gusrtw20]

At that point, I think the floaty thing isn't the only trait that water has lost, the glug-glug part of it is looong gone as well 😅

[@FloofMother]

Well, you can still drink it, it’s just not a good idea

[@pyrotechc3h8]

Bruh, I am going to solve your mystery quite simply: When you drop a toothbrush in a toilet you've pretty much written off that toothbrush forever. I am pretty sure falling into a giant vat of poop water has the same effect on your desire to keep living. "Whelp, here I am in a sea of crap...guess I'll sink to the bottom and hope I do better in the next life"

[@purpl3grape]

agreed. Just like using 1-ply toilet paper which breaks making you scrape your asshole, that finger is gone.

[@superbowlchampionchiefs5079]

I just laughed so hard at this comment. 😆😆😆😆😆

[@superbowlchampionchiefs5079]

Y’all are too much 😆😆😆😆 keep up the good work fellas.

[@TheCatBilbo]

The irony is that studies show our bathrooms are often 'cleaner' than our kitchens, in a microbial sense. Toilet water isn't the risk people assume: it's usually drinking standard; the bowl is cleaned & disinfected more often than plenty of other areas in our homes & flushed on a regular basis.

[@1TwistedPoet]

In actual fact, in most North American Bathrooms, the toothbrush is dirtier than the toilet. Your kitchen sink also, very likely, has a higher bacterial load than your toilet.

[@KyleCowden]

During my swift water rescue training, we had a "boil swim" where you go into the boil at the bottom of a low head or spillway. Mind you, we had rescuer PFD's on and wet suits. Hit that aerated water and went clunk on the bottom.. about 7-8' deep. I sat there for a second and got my bearings before rolling out from it. You WILL sink in aerated water and if you're not prepared, that's where they'll find you.

[@ForzaMonkey]

so basically, don't swim to the SOURCE of the aeration.

[@Tommy1marg]

it relay boils down to intensity of bubbles, but yeah, in hight speed hight stress situations it's better to avoid any potential dangers because of a poor judgment due to brain being overloaded with adrenaline

[@spvillano]

@@Tommy1marg that's the hardest lesson to learn or teach, to mentally take a step back and analyze what's going on and to then take the proper steps to get out of the problem one is unexpectedly confronted with. I've been caught by rip currents, while merrily heading out to sea, evaluating what was happening and cut across the current to get out of it. I've also caught an offshore current, which was marked on nautical maps of the area that I just happened to blunder into (Coast Guard station was near the beach I was at), noticed I was quite distant from the shore and moving around 4 knots toward NYC from NJ. Seeing that and remembering the current marked on the map, I cut across the current and eventually waded back to the beach I was at. Fighting the current is the recipe for disaster, as water's a hell of a lot stronger than we are! Laughably, what brought my attention to the problem was, a shark swam between my legs, brushing against my inner thigh. As sand sharks tend to be in deeper water, when I turned toward shore, well, whoopsie that doesn't look good... The lifeguard looked quite alarmed, until he saw me cut the current and start wading back. First failure, losing situational awareness. Lesson learned. He who panics drowns.

[@nautilus5922]

@@spvillano "Laughably, what brought my attention to the problem was, a shark swam between my legs, brushing against my inner thigh." Hey thats one life I've heard of saved by a shark, we could cut that out of like the... 11 shark fatalities that happen per year!

[@perceptionzzz]

Àà

[@domib2896]

As a wastewater engineer this warms my heart. Wastewater just doesn't get enough focus and recognition. I want to add that there are other factors of danger to be considered: Especially on smaller plants there isn't a lot of personnel - sometimes just one person (even though in theory it isn't allowed). So if you fall in, you are on your own. Also most aeration basins I have seen have quite the excess height at the brim so you have to get to a ladder to get out.

[@simonnachreiner8380]

Props to you man. People like you are the reason human civilization still has drinkable water despite the fact major cities produce enough waste to entirely clog the rivers they sit on.

[@WouldntULikeToKnow.]

Yeah, thanks for dealing with all our crap :)

[@VeganSemihCyprus33]

The Connections (2021) [short documentary] 💖✌

[@moteroargentino7944]

Not all heros wear capes. Respect to you sir.

[@Ryarios]

At least until the influent pump station goes off line and raw sewage starts spewing from manholes in town. THEN they pay a lot of attention to it…

[@avivatar5288]

“These signs are probably scarier than they need to be, but that’s fine when your ultimate concern is someone’s safety.” Well said! I’m an electrician. Every day I stick my hand in a 480V power box or “bucket,” I risk my life, which is why I avoid doing it as much as possible. I wish more people were willing to accept the essentially hyperbolically displayed danger on warning signs because, in the end, that *chance* at death is what those signs are working to prevent.

[@mattt525]

Electricity and radiation are scary because they are invisible and can kill you instantly.

[@Sapreme]

Like su*cide cords??

[@The_McFortner]

Part of it could be the large amount of CO2 released by the microbes caused those people to pass out from lack of oxygen and then drown. I remember touring the Jack Daniels distillery a couple of decades ago and they would not let you too close to the fermentation tanks because of this.

[@greenspiraldragon]

Methane bubbles from the sea floor could, in theory, sink ships and may explain the odd disappearances of some vessels

[@larion2336]

Interesting idea, I wonder how often that really happens, or what the odds are of getting hit by such a thing. Seems like rogue waves are a more likely cause.

[@go_outside5511]

Interesting, not very common, but plausible, you get a sticker :)

[@anastasiaolson3791]

I actually learned about this in my oceanography class. My teacher said that around the Bermuda Triangle area there’s a large amount of these methane bubbles, so it’s a possible reason that so many vessels go down in the area

[@nitro8529]

@@anastasiaolson3791 No it isnt, that has been debunked ages ago. Just search for bermuda methane debunked

[@nitro8529]

No they cant, this has been debunked by scientists ages ago...

[@Grymgar]

I think the major sticking point for me with falling in one of these would be fear of the microbes (bugs), not the aeration of the water.

[@foongern1071]

Drowning seems to be a more pressing problem, but yeah that water would be nasty.

[@AuxiliaryPanther]

Last thought as drowning: "Yuck"

[@kilgirlietrout]

As a germaphobe, I'd honestly rather drown quickly than deal with the psychological aftermath of having been in that water.

[@anteshell]

@@kilgirlietrout I do find germaphobia somewhat ironic, since your body is full of microbial life that is quite literally essential for you to live.

[@briangarrow448]

I worked in the wastewater industry for years and watched as a guy who was cleaning out an aeration tank stepped into a sump and fell in over his head. He was not a happy camper after he crawled out. And the entire crew was laughing at him uncontrollably. Lucky for him he closed his mouth and eyes and didn’t get seriously injured or ill.

[@unfa00]

7:29 Wow, that's a sound effect I've made ("unfa's Laser Weapon Sounds" on Freesound) :D Glad it's going places. I love your videos Kyle!

[@thespacexplorer6552]

That's awesome

[@omgwai]

You might also consider the risk of “splash drowning” - aspiration of water without being fully submerged - as a substantial risk when being unexpectedly dropped into an aerated pool with less buoyancy and a more fluid boundary between liquid and air. It’s a major risk for inexperienced people in whitewater exploits such as tubing.

[@necko2529]

I've experienced turbulent flows with lots of air bubbles and it's terrifying, no matter how much you're flapping your arms and legs, you're just going down.

[@TheFoxfirelight]

That is truely horrifying

[@wewillsurviveone]

Same things happen to ships. There's been a theory going about the Bermuda triangle and natural gas being released and that taking ships down in seconds

[@Agarwaen]

same, luckily the bathtub isn't too deep and I don't eat taco that often

[@NoneYaBp]

This doesnt help my fear of bodies of water....

[@mae8646]

@@wewillsurviveone That's way scarier than aliens, I assume even lifeboats and lifejackets would sink so that's guaranteed drowning to death 😬

[@LifeWithMatthew]

Yeah, I remember the first time I did some programming work at a waste water treatment plant and asked why there weren't any ladders attached to the side of the aeration basins and was quickly told it was because if I fell in there would be no swimming to the side. Definitely a fact that sticks in the mind.

[@JamesChessman]

Dude there’s no way that’s true, who is running the treatment plant, Skeletor or some other evil villain? No way!!

[@DAZUNIVERSALINDUSTREIS]

@@JamesChessman it definitely is true and he’s got a point

[@LifeWithMatthew]

@@JamesChessman well technically it was a continous aeration basin (the difference being that in an aeration basin it's filled then goes through its stages empties out and refills, and a continuous aeration basin has several section that water continuously runs through separated into the correct sections to go through the aerobic, anaerobic, and anoxic process) and yes no ladders were connected because there was thought to be no point. When maintenance was required the basin was drained and ladders put in place to work on the bubblers.

[@patrickfrost9405]

@@LifeWithMatthew Oh, since it can drain, it can easily be rigged to drain if it detects the weight of a person dropping in.

[@thelegendarynarwhal2931]

@@patrickfrost9405 Sadly, absolutely not. Even if your only trying to drain certain zones and not the entire thing there's just no way you're going to empty it in any kind of timely matter. I work at a relatively small plant but even then we still get millions of gallons per day in pretty deep ditches. On top of that you have to consider that you are likely seeing constant flow into your plant, since people don't just stop pooping on masse. To empty a ditch completely you would need to call in a contractor with vactor trucks to suck out the fluid and then go dump it somewhere that doesn't just flow back into your plant anyway as you turn all of your incoming pumps off and shut all valves. tl;dr If somebody falls in and they are able to successfully tread water and float without getting ripped under, you are far better off just throwing long ass ropes in with the whole rest of your crew there ready to haul ass and yank them out.

[@korturas9084]

I used to work in the offshore drilling industry. Whenever we started a new well we'd have to have a guy spend their entire shift "bubble watching". Disturbing the seabed while drilling the first phase of the well has the potential to release large volumes of gasses, to the point where the drilling rig would no longer be able to remain buoyant.

[@markjames8664]

It seems like methane bubbles would create a greater loss of buoyancy because that gas is less dense than air (there might be other gases involved but I think that methane is a lot of this). Also I believe bubbles of less dense gases would rise faster, accelerating the reduction in buoyancy. I don’t know the exact danger of this but unless you are sure it is safe I can see why they check. The

[@IncredibleMD]

... And you didn't have anything more advanced to monitor that than a guy?

[@korturas9084]

@@IncredibleMD I can't speak for any rig other than the one worked on, and no we did not. I honestly thought I was getting the piss ripped out of me the first time I was told to do it.

[@IncredibleMD]

@@korturas9084"Bubble Watcher" sounds like a job the old hands would give the new guy to get him in trouble with the foreman.

[@korturas9084]

@@IncredibleMD precisely

[@dylanblack-shell9002]

i like how drinking is represented as "glug-glug" at 0:06

[@Sahasrahla.]

I remember hearing about non-buoyant water when I was a kid and it sounded terrifying, like quicksand. Luckily, much like quicksand, it's not something you're just gonna accidentally happen across in your everyday life.

[@BigFx]

Technically, you can't fully submerge in quicksand either - humans are buoyant in it as well. You can go to a little bit above beer belly (+/- a bit depending on sand and temperature). The hollywood trope of submerged head with overreaching arm is impossible. Just breathe, lay flat on your front (if you know what you do) or back (if there is help around) and you will be fine.

[@arekkrol9758]

when i head about non-buoyant water at first i thought its some bullshit kojima has invented, was suprised when i learned that its real thing

[@chriskallen1]

Hill should do an episode about quicksand if he hasn't already. Interesting non-Newtonian characteristics.

[@Neiroe]

@@arekkrol9758 hate to break it to you but metal gear is actually a documentary

[@rwm1980]

@@BigFx when the tide comes in u are screwed

[@maraudershields283]

Weird side note: I once heard a theory that ships disappearing in the Bermuda Triangle could have been cause by underwater landslides, that released a large amount of gas. Said gas then aerated pockets of ocean enough for ships to sink. Whether that’s true is up for debate, but was interesting anyway.

[@nullsnull5826]

Hmmm 🤔 Interesting!

[@edpablo2635]

Could you give us a link? This sounds incredibly interesting

[@captaincannabis3321]

Specifically its methane. large deposits of methane gas are trapped below the ocean floor in hydrothermal vents, and the theory is that large amounts of methane could be released at once could essentially create giant bubbles that simultaneously lower the buoyancy(Methane is less dense than air) and provide upward momentum from the bubble popping(and sometimes exploding) which cause ships to capsize. Also for aircraft, the theory is that if it happens to be flying directly above one of the massive methane bubbles popping, then then concentration in the air could be high enough to make the planes engine stall/explode.

[@ssokolow]

I saw a BBC video that tested that in small scale and it looks viable... there's only one problem: As LEMMiNO's excellent video details, the Bermuda Triangle needs no explanation. Ships and planes don't disappear at an unusual rate, given the amount of traffic and the weather conditions, and people like to sloppily assign blame to it for things that didn't happen anywhere near it. (I'm reminded of the line that gets said again and again on Skeptoid in various forms. "Before looking for an explanation, confirm that what needs an explanation actually exists." The Bermuda Triangle is a classic case of writers spicing mundane things up to increase readership.)

[@Mikowmer]

@@ssokolow I think I remember that video. I've also seen one on how a training flight of the US Air Force I think it was got turned around and ended up perishing at sea after their compasses started spinning on their own. Turns out, they were merely blown off course by strong winds, and then got disoriented because they got confused which part of the map they were supposed to be looking at. They would have made it back to the mainland... except the flight's leader made the (incorrect) call to turn around against the advice of ATC, and ended up dooming the entire flight.

[@manusb6441]

I am working in Water and Waste Water Treatment Operations. You did us proud Thanks!👍👍

[@ryonkarpierz1179]

I appreciate how you used diagrams of both trickling filter systems and activated sludge. I work in this industry and nobody seems to find it interesting at all. They just complain about the smell

[@xxxBlueIncendiaxxx]

I would notice while body surfing that when the wave would break and the seawater was extremely aerated right after it was hard to swim in it. Very fascinating stuff!

[@Simon-ho6ly]

Yup, i encounter something similar kayaking in white water, which partly gets its name from the white airation... certain river features can create highly airated waters and you can feel your kayak sits lower and its harder to paddle

[@SmokeyChipOatley]

Aerated ocean water was actually the inspiration for Taco Bell’s exclusive Mountain Dew flavor Baja Blast. According to the inventor who’s also an avid surfer. So much so that the first few variants of the formula called for some carbonated sea water to be added for a salt-rimmed margarita effect… Also I’m a compulsive liar and I completely made the whole thing up.

[@dallanledford6364]

It's why you see dolphins swimming next to ships. The aeration the ships cause allow them to swim faster.

[@brainfat1]

I read a book about surfing the most dangerous areas and this is what I thought of when watching the video. Kinda funny to think that water with more air in it is MORE dangerous.

[@seraphina985]

@@dallanledford6364 I think with dolphins there is also a degree of genuine curiosity about these strange animals riding on their bizarre contraption at play too. Especially considering that many of those animals return that curiosity and thus react to the dolphins behaviour we are probably a somewhat interesting diversion for a time.

[@davidci]

I remember hearing that The Strid, considered as one of the most dangerous streams of water despite how unassuming it looks, is actually that dangerous because of how aerated and bubbly its water is from the way the stream flows in it, meaning that if you were to fall in that water, you would only sink.

[@HasanibnSabah]

I have watched so many Strid videos since I found out about it. Nightmare stuff for sure!

[@SlanderFails]

Is also unbelievably deep despite the narrow channel. That aeration is compounded by anything that sinks gets caught in the many unseen rock overhangs deep beneath the surface.

[@SecondSunofficial]

@@SlanderFails exactly this, the river essentially turns sideways and is so deep that they dont really know how deep

[@SeekingTheLoveThatGodMeans7648]

The bubbliness comes from the violent motion.

[@badgermetal]

Streams or rivers flow the aerated bubbles at random. Not just going up from the bottom like a tank does. So a river wouldn't always be counter acting buoyancy like the center of a tank would. That's what makes aerated water so dangerous in nature.

[@superbowlchampionchiefs5079]

Bro, your videos are filled with fascinating information but so funny at the same time. You crack me up. Keep up the good work, my man!

[@Night_Hawk_475]

Clothes are heavy AF, and have a lot of drag when worn while swimming. I can totally see how someone who normally is fine swimming would end up drowning if they fell into any water tank unexpectedly while wearing not just normal clothes, but protective/work-outfit clothes. Maybe the tiny bit of buoyance loss compounds the problem, but even a non-aerated tank I could see this happening with. When I was doing some water-safety training a few years ago I had to practice falling into water while wearing jeans and a tshirt, and damn was it hard just to stay afloat at all. The first part of the training very much was about learning how to take them off while already in the water, which is even harder since you have to at least partially stop actively using your legs to keep yourself afloat in order to do it. Even having practiced it, if I were tossed unexpectedly into a tank with bubbling currents, and any extra clothing on, and maybe not the best lighting, I could see how the disorientation, surprise, and stress, could lead to an unfortunate end. One question though? If the air flow creates an upwards current in the water. Is there a part of the tank where there's also a downwards current? Like a convection current in a boiling pot of water? This could be a danger zone that instead of canceling out the buoyance change would instead make it much worse, no?

[@RCHobbyist463]

I think the main point of the video was that the downwards current at the edges is the most dangerous possible hazard created by aerated water. Your best bet is to swim to the center and take off any clothing that inhibits your ability to swim.

[@briangarrow448]

I worked for years in the wastewater treatment industry. This was something we always had to explain to visitors when they toured our treatment plant. That, and yes, we had hundreds of poop jokes.

[@Ryarios]

One WWTP the company I worked for, built from a green field, had your typical dog and pony show on completion. The aerators at this facility didn’t use spargers . It used a large pump to splash water against flat plate to aerate it. Well, the mayor fell in and you can probably guess the rest. That must have been nearly 40 years ago.

[@WouldntULikeToKnow.]

Well don't hold out on us dude...

[@AP-ny3pn]

@@Ryarios sorry I can't guess the rest... Superbly interested for you to share what it is 🙂. Apologies as I've never worked in these treatment plants to fill in the blanks

[@Ryarios]

@@AP-ny3pn the mayor was sucked to the pump inlet and drowned.

[@ellisberry8747]

@@Ryarios I also cannot figure out the rest and would like to be filled in

[@matthewshiers9038]

That's actually terrifying! The first instinctive reaction of anyone falling into one of those vats would be to swim to the edge. Based on the diagram shown at 10:16, that's exactly where they would be at greatest risk of being pulled under and drowning.

[@snakevenom4954]

Not exactly since they would then get pushed into the center. If the force isn't enough, they can quite easily kick off the wall or just swim toward the center. I would imagine it's more of the panick that kills people, not the actual water having much of an affect

[@EvanBear]

@@snakevenom4954 Probably also them not knowing that they should seek out the center of the tank.

[@greenanubis]

​@@snakevenom4954 Part of the flow that goes back to the center is at the bottom of the tank. Not the place you want to find yourself in. Either way, aerated water would make staying on the surface more tiring, increasing the chance for drowning. Even if it was caused by panic and disorientation.

[@snakevenom4954]

@@greenanubis That's fine tho. Since the flow that goes to the center would push you into the center. And hence, push you up

[@greenanubis]

@@snakevenom4954 After that same flow pushed you down underwater. But yeah, that part that pushes you up is fine. Mind you, all we have is that cartoony diagram from the video. We have alot of presumptions about where the air nozzles are, shape of the tank and so on. Its hard to be sure.

[@katherineduke3232]

When I was in elementary school, we took a field trip to the water treatment plant. We got to tour the walkways of the tanks and what always stuck with me was being told that if you fell in the tank, you will get pulled down and drown because it's not buoyant. You can't swim in it without drowning. Still terrifies me.

[@Hertzmas01]

You’re videos are so entertaining and informative!! I had no idea aerated water existed 10 minutes ago and now I feel like I fully understand the concept! Thanks!!

[@Rurik_Luci]

Ever worked around a grain silo? There's a reason it's a 3 person minimum job. That's by law in a lot of places. We have a 4 man minimum at work with big signs giving warning. Even bigger ones for the large machinery.

[@lIlIIlIllIIIllIIllIlIllIllI]

Grain voids are terrifying and deadly, good on your workplace

[@pixpusha]

Is it for fear of people falling into the grain?

[@alexmeakins]

@@pixpusha Yeah, think quicksand, but real and worse.

[@Cau_No]

Might there also be a possibility of CO2 buildup at the bottom that could lead to suffocation if unattended? That's another cause of lethal accidents within deep, enclosed areas.

[@Ass_of_Amalek]

E Smith grain silos can aerate the grain from below to dry it and prevent mold growth. if it blows hard enough, the grain pretty much liquifies.

[@coltonholiday4872]

I've had to do a few fab jobs above these tanks. Was warned pretty sternly beforehand that the bubbly poo water was quite dangerous.

[@pegasBaO23]

"The bubbly poo water" is a very funny name

[@VeganSemihCyprus33]

The Connections (2021) [short documentary] 💖✌

[@404cp]

People need warnings to avoid bubbling poo water?

[@grahamfisher5436]

like those "bubble tea" cafe- shyte 😅😅😅😅👍

[@jypsridic]

@@404cp Falling into poo water ruins your day and gets the caution that demands. Drowning in poo water ruins your life, and that gets more caution.

[@BrosBGaming]

Wastewater operator class 3 here. This jobs actually pretty cool. And yeah aerated water is the same concept as quicksand. As the bubbles rise they force you under.

[@DoglinsShadow]

Legendary content here man!!! Great job thank you !!! Very valuable production quality and entertaining. Thanks

[@jaxhobes5524]

I’m a industrial electrician and my company specializes in building water treatment plants, we’ve been warned many times of the dangers involved especially with the “water full of air” as some of us call it. Glad to see this information get shared.

[@dujilli]

Off topic but do you like doing your job?

[@whannabi]

@@dujilli sus

[@dujilli]

@@whannabi 😭

[@bryansmith1136]

@@dujilli Not OP, but same profession here. It's great. I'm a union electrician and it really changed my life for the better. I would really recommend joining unions and the skilled trades if you can handle the hard work.

[@dujilli]

@@bryansmith1136 thank you, being an electrician does seem like a fun job to do

[@stefanalenius]

WARNING! Do not go in for a swim! A collegue of mine, a chemist, fell into a water processing tank while getting samples due to ice on the walking bridge. We were able to get her up and out of the "water" within a few minutes and she spent the rest of the day in the sauna to get rid of as much bacteria as possible. Still she fell ill and was at risk of dying from fever and infection during almost two weeks after the incident. These tanks are dangerous and not for swiming... if you fall into them, you can die several weeks later from the infection.

[@garretth8224]

Lmao a sauna was the worst choice. Giving germs a moist sweaty place that won't dry off is a bad idea. Moisture and warmth will almost always increase the rate of germ growth. Also a sauna would have to be too hot for a person to even use it, to even kill some germs. She should have immediately seen a doctor, they would have given her an antibiotic regimen.

[@JohnWick-qz7us]

@@garretth8224 yeah. Sauna was a dumb idea

[@grandsome1]

@@garretth8224 Maybe not, it could induce an artificial fever which would help in the inside before the body realized that it was under attack. EDIT: I'm not a doctor.

[@rakino4418]

@@garretth8224 potassium iodide bath maybe

[@yens1609]

@@garretth8224 could be they meant a jacuzzi or a hot tub instead of a sauna, I make that mistake often as well lol

[@user-bg3tn4xv3i]

Ahh Kyle. I really love coming back to this channel. Keep up the good work, mate!

[@m3talg3array]

Oddly enough, I’ve always wondered about this since seeing that boss fight in MGS2 years ago. Thanks for explaining it! 🙏

[@junioraltamontent.7582]

Always confused me as Vamp gives a whole speech about not coming back up then he just flies in and out of the water a whole bunch lol

[@stanettiels7367]

I remember seeing a documentary about how a ship vanished, and one theory was that an underwater eruption of some kind aerated the water making the ship lose buoyancy. They demonstrated it with a scale model and it was fascinating but it was a rogue wave that did it.

[@walthodgson5780]

I seem to recall this was trying to explain vessel losses in the Bermuda Triangle. IIRC it was suggested that they were methane bubbles, which would also take out aircraft either by killing the engines or exploding.

[@skyfeelan]

@@walthodgson5780 it's clearly a djinn kingdom, that's why people there disappear even while they're still eating but the ships are fine /s

[@rwxstudio7173]

I think I remember seeing the same documentary. Something about a release of methane gas from a vent below that would displace the water enough to alter the surface tension and cause a ship to get pulled under. At least that's what I remember.

[@danstrayer111]

@@rwxstudio7173 methane hydrates gassing.

[@GashimahironChl]

Bermuda triangle is just a really bubbly seafloor crack

[@TheInfinityMaster1]

Huh, I always knew about the *"Dead Sea" in Jordan* where you can EASILY *float* in it thanks to its extreme *high salinity,* but I never knew about the OPPOSITE of that kind of water until this video! Thanks Kyle! :]

[@meanyheadmoto]

some quarry lakes are also known to release air bubbles from the earth under the water, causing streams of bubbles to rise up, and if you jump in the quarry in the wrong spot you'll sink 200 feet like a rock

[@casedistorted]

You never played metal gear solid 2? Such a classic game.

[@VeganSemihCyprus33]

The Connections (2021) [short documentary] 💖✌

[@Aqueox]

So does anyone wanna explain why this guy types like a Boomer?

[@chacabangasochannel3695]

I was there a week ago! It feels like you have floaties lol and it burned my eyes. 10/10

[@TigerShork1]

I went on a 5th grade field to a water treatment facility and when we went to look at one of the aeration tanks (idk if it was one or not) the person giving us the tour said that if you fell in you would drown because of the amount of bubble in the water. (I could be wrong as my memory is fuzzy)

[@jasontram7775]

Great video and FYI you can conveniently get a permanent marker for wet/oily/dusty surfaces from any Home Depot and always in stock. Milwaukee INKZALL markers ~$1 each (w/ options for other colors and tip sizes).

[@SuperDdall]

I am replaying MGS2 right now and Vamp's fight is honestly the first thing I think of when I hear non-buoyant water. It's pretty terrifying to think about.

[@Aceg13579]

Agreed

[@Varizen87]

I did that fight on the hardest setting and I found the best road to victory was when he jumps into the water, just pump stingers into him. But yes... I too immediately though of Vamp when I saw this video... Phil LaMarr really brought that character to life... As he does with all his roles.

[@NotAGoodUsername360]

And then Vamp goes swimming in it anyway

[@austinhaltiner1489]

Could be worse. It could have magic sharks attacking you like Kojima originally planned. Edit: So I was actually wrong about this. There were sharks cut from the game but they weren't magic. I got it mixed up with the character that would have summoned a dragon to fight you in the water with his tattoo. Still freaking crazy.

[@jackplisken4738]

i searched for this comment XD

[@GarrettKeith]

I've been cliff jumping near waterfalls before and the highly aerated white water at the foot of the falls definitely makes it a lot harder to swim, without the controlled vertical flow of bubbles like in the tanks I think you lose some of that upwards force

[@warailawildrunner5300]

That is because the bottom of waterfalls is essentially acting as a drowning machine. Which is pretty much what the tanks are creating in effect - with the water going up in the centre and then going down at the edges. so creating circulation in the tanks.

[@nspring06]

Pretty sure that has nothing to do with aeration rather moreso the fact that the downward flow of the fall hitting the water creates a current that pulls you down.

[@nenmaster5218]

„I dont fight Stupidity, as it's not a Crime. I fight willfull Ignorance, cause that pushes us back." -Professor Dave, famous Sciencedenial-Debunker and Scamartist-Catcher.

[@GarrettKeith]

@@nspring06 even where it's burbling back up and pushing downstream it's still a noticable difference, usually just have to wait till it pushes you into calmer water

[@OfficialDropRate]

that's a different thing. what youre talking about is a natural drowning machine. Kyle did a video on that and even mentions natural waterfalls. you should check it. very interesting video also.

[@Greenketch1]

Love your content. I am both a full blown nerd and a serious outdoor enthusiast. Two observations that support your postulate from nature. 1st, When white water rafting often the large rafts that are used for tours are properly referred to as 5000lb rafts. This is due to them having very close to 5000 pounds of buoyancy. In the rare occasion that one has an appropriate waterfall that has an aeration pool at the bottom of sufficient depth. When going over the falls the entire raft and occupants will fully submerge in that pool. Once the raft reaches the lower extent of the pool it will typically fold nearly in half as the back of the raft is submerged and the leading edge is again bouyant. It will then shoot back up to the surface. It is only negatively buoyant in the intensely aerated region of the falls. 2nd, when kayaking in the salt water if one tries to land on the beach through the surf. If you can maintain a position on the wave and surf in similar to a board surfer there is very little change. If you miss and end up in the foamy aerated stuff that precedes the wave. Your kayak will ride significantly lower in the water and your paddle inputs for control will be nearly ineffective unless you dig deep and engage the green water below the foam.

[@McSpicyYT]

Reminds me of when Mark Rober made a pool of sand that, when activated, would send air through the sand allowing you to move free in it as if it were a liquid.

[@M0nch_Cr0nch]

2:13 I still remember the way my freshmen science teacher taught it to us: "Less dense things float on more dense things." It's simple and easy to remember

[@Dhalin]

Another easy way to remember it: picture the surface of the water as a delicate cloth, and then imagine what would happen if you stretched this cloth tight in the air and placed a small heavy object on it, it'd go right through the cloth, but if you placed an object with larger surface area and less weight on it, the cloth wouldn't rip. Surface area also has a lot to do with it, that's how you can have ships with metal hulls floating. They have lots and lots of surface area to push against the water with. The same principle also works with parachutes. You won't float on air with a big enough parachute, however it does make your descent slower for the same reason.

[@lichking3711]

so then we'll all float in mercury easy, right? Right? :D

[@MegaCharns]

@@Dhalin wtf

[@tedparkinson2033]

It's why you can layer drinks too. Some alcoholic beverages and juices and shit are denser than others. As long as you break the momentum of its fall with a spoon, you can balance one on another.

[@jaynoir8937]

I've been to waste water treatment plants, the smell that hits you between buildings is absolutely ungodly

[@june012006]

Had to pass one on the way to the DFAC when I was in Iraq, and that smell is one of the most memorable things about my deployment.

[@jaynoir8937]

@@june012006 Right? The first time I've Ever openly gagged.

[@Drakeblood97]

I work at a wastewater treatment plant and have to handle raw return activated sludge every day. You never really get used to the smell.

[@jaynoir8937]

@@Drakeblood97 Both times I've been to one the guys there just say "it smells like money".

[@Ryarios]

@@Drakeblood97 most of the ones I’ve worked in the past as a contractor, weren’t bad other than headworks. I’ve had some horrible experiences in those. Almost vomit inducing. I’ve never had to handle RAS or WAS directly though.

[@jacquerene789]

Thank you! I really enjoy your channel. It's funny, professional yet silly and wholly informative and entertaining. Oh - and interesting!!!!

[@cat_doge]

the algorithm god's brought me to you, and your clear way of explaining things (and the "Michael Buble" and "hotttubs" lil jokes) had me laughing the whole time. very impressed with your content! Also one of your merch pictures resembles Jason Momoa doing the Iron Man pose lmao

[@ean_0]

This is actually hilarious to me now. Someone who worked at one of these places came to my science class and tried showing us what would happen if you fall into one of these claiming you would just sink and drown. But when he did his experiment to back his claim he used a fan pushing air into the bottom of a tank full of water and dropped something into the tank expecting it to sink but it floated just as it did with the fan off. He got super embarrassed and red faced and couldn't give a reason to why it wasn't working. Poor guy was just accidentally ahead of his time.

[@kattodoggo3868]

😂 send him this video

[@xXZomBearXx]

Same effect can occur when you aerate other materials. Like sand for example. The decreased density of the sand creates a situation where there is so much air that the density is decreased enough that it behaves more like a fluid than a solid. It's really neat

[@Chef_PC]

They used this as a feature of how the Shai-Halud “swim” the sands of Arrakis in Dune

[@stallord8796]

I love the video Mark Rober did on that >w

[@RequiemPoete]

This is why people have "drowned" in corn and grain silos

[@paladinjones1833]

Hospitals have specialty beds with a mattress made of aerated sand. The surface moves as the sand circulates. So the person isn't laying in one static position, but instead this gently undulating surface. It's good for folks with impaired circulation and pressure ulcers (bedsores).

[@DragonAurora]

In other words...quicksand.

[@tylerbuckley2092]

At the water plant i worked at in some of the pools have chemicals that treat the waste water chlorine, and some other nasty chemicals are also in that would drag someone in it down real quick these pools also have grinders inside to chop up the sewage then that water goes to the aerator pool

[@HeidiBird]

When I was in primary school, we visited the local sewage treatment centre and were told about this. So, I was taught this as a young child and have never forgotten since. It's not hard a difficult concept to grasp.

[@larion2336]

This reminded me of the fascinating Bolton Strid in England. It's a charming, peaceful looking creek that's 6 foot wide at most and has been killing people for centuries, as it absolutely looks like a simple stream of water you can jump across it or have a dip in. I recall people saying due to the small falls that the water there is very aerated, which is part of what contributes to making it very hard to escape the water. In addition to that however there is hidden underwater caves to either side under water, very maze like structures of rock that people are sucked down into when they fall in.

[@catalintimofti1117]

falling in is 100% fatal i think not even one soul got out once they were in

[@vivianloney8826]

Only people known to successfully swim it as far as I know are scuba divers in full gear.

[@ssjgeon]

I don't believe the aeration is the big issue with it. It looks like a calm creek but it's moving incredibly fast right below the surface because it gets way wider, and has the underwater caves as you explain. Its essentially the king of all undercut River hazards, aka the most dangerous thing in a river.

[@MichaelMcDonald655321]

Always been fascinated with that. Wonder if there is some way to map it out?

[@vivianloney8826]

@@ssjgeon I agree. Those underwater caves create turbulence below the surface that your typical whitewater doesn't. Combine with much faster velocity because what was once a wide channel is now narrow and imagine that every direction you swim in is like trying to swim against riptide. There is no direction where you can swim parallel to the waters movement the entire height of the channel and therefore no way to reliably float. Although I've studied the hydrodynamics of rivers I am nowhere near expert level so take what I said with a grain of salt.

[@southjerseysound7340]

I work in marine salvage and we were towing a junk barge that had "broke loose" because the company didn't want to dispose of it. Anyways stuff hit the fan and I was on the barge running pumps and compressors and because the seam split it went down fast. luckily I had a good life preserver because on instincts I ran to the bow where we'd been filling with compressed air. By the time I realized I'd done effed up it was too late. But I tried jumping in and getting away and I swam about 5ft before the water really started pushing air out😮 and I sank like a rock....life vest and all. it was no joke even though I laugh about it now because it felt like being inside a washing machine on spin cycle. I'd get close to the surface and then back down until luckily the barge turned sideways. I didn't know it at the time and I got in position and kicked off the deck far enough out of the devil's cauldron to pop to the surface where I blacked out and slept through most of my ambulance ride. But at least I was awake for the helicopter ride to Cooper😂 who were absolutely amazing❤

[@nenmaster5218]

„I dont fight Stupidity, as it's not a Crime. I fight willfull Ignorance, cause that pushes us back." -Professor Dave, famous Sciencedenial-Debunker and Scamartist-Catcher. I mean: What about Evo-Deniers, Qanon, J.W and all the stuff? Ya know, the stuff that is 'coincidentally' covered by both Science-Youtuebrs AND Atheist-Channel, almost as if they're spiritual-siblings?

[@zackzeed]

You should post your story on Reddit! ^^

[@gorillajoe999]

Wow that's nightmare fuel. I'm glad you made it.

[@nenmaster5218]

@@gorillajoe999 I genuinly wanna hear the opinion of Science-Fans on Some More News newest videos. He does such great Research and calls out the Flaws of Goverment and History so well, i really want more Peoples opinions, especially Science-Enthusiasts though.

[@whannabi]

@@nenmaster5218 science poop fans seems like a great community

[@steventarsitano3209]

i remember we went on a field trip once to a water purification plant like this and they told us about this stuff. we saw a big tank of it just like that. kinda interesting to see someone make a video about that obscure factoid from my childhood.

[@moadrazzaki5677]

Thank you so much for explaining that 👏🏻

[@YodaWasSith]

I visited a wastewater treatment plant in 2011 and the guys there explained basically the same thing you said about the bubble columns forming a circulating flow (Which is good for the bugs) and that that's where the danger lies, I remember him saying "We tell everyone to swim straight to the middle and stay there until help arrives," so at least not everyone is wrong about this.

[@natstar7864]

Legal reason for the signs just like hot warning on coffee without it anyone can sue including people trespassing that have no clearance to be there just like if someone jumps in your backyard when you got warning dog signs can use it as proof they knew you had a dog and entered without permission so they cannot sue you.

[@raingram]

@@natstar7864 that coffee was at 200 degrees and gave the poor woman massive 3rd degree burns!

[@Chris-du7hi]

​@@raingram Writing hot on the side is not going to prevent anyone from being accidently burned with coffee. Its only purpose is to prevent a lawsuit.

[@Jreb1865]

@@raingram 200° F. will not cause 3rd degree burns, only 2nd degree...

[@crypticcorvid]

@@Jreb1865 I assume if the heat is stuck on your skin for long enough it would cause 3rd degree burns. Which would make sense, given that the old woman was sitting down and the car seat would trap the coffee against her skin. It's like those weird machines that cook meat at a low temperature but over a long course of time.

[@mizenbarbarossa494]

The metal gear battle over the non buoyant water was awesome whether it was non buoyant water, heavy water or just learning the different grades of water it's all pretty interesting.

[@scunnerdarkly4929]

“Heavy water” is something altogether different but no less interesting…

[@alastormedial]

Indeeeeed. That Vamp battle was rad. Then they had to explain his magic abilities in MGS4 as being nanomachine based and uhhh, bullshit?

[@duffman18]

@@scunnerdarkly4929 what's fascinating to me is that you can actually drink heavy water, and it's fine, more or less. It's probably not a good idea to drink it every day. But many scientists have tried it. Apparently it tastes very sweet compared to normal water. And all it is is just water but with a different isotope of hydrogen. Deuterium. It's got dueterium in it, the same thing that powers starships in star trek. And you can drink it and it's nice. And it's mainly used in very old nuclear power plants, and nuclear weapon production facilities. Apparently that's why Germany's nuclear program in WWII never got off the ground, because they needed heavy water for their design, and only could source it from one factory in Norway. And the Norwegians deliberately sabotaged all the equipment so that Hitler was screwed. They all got shot, of course. Brave, brave men. They kinda saved the world a bit. Although Germany's nuclear program probably would have failed regardless because they killed or exiled all their top Jewish scientists, who had all gone to America to work on the manhattan project instead. I always wonder what would have happened if the bombs were dropped in Germany as originally intended. Like, Godzilla wouldn't exist. We'd have a German equivalent probably, called Gottzillanschneibenleifenstagreich or something. Anime wouldn't exist either, cos anime only exists because of the American occupation of Japan after World War II. So anime would be a German creation. Anyway I digress. Heavy water sounds so cool as a name. I don't wanna try it myself, mind you. Not that I'd ever be able to get a hold of any lol. But yeah.

[@NiceMuslimLady]

Actually, you would have about 10% more buoyancy in heavy water. The idea being that the water itself being heavier, means you don't displace as much. And, by the way...D2O is a poison. Many substances have an LD50, (yes, even "regular" water), however, if you drink 30% of your body mass of heavy water, you just hit the LD50 of heavy water.

[@NiceMuslimLady]

@@duffman18 Dilithium is actually a real thing, literally two covalently bonded Lithium atoms, just like Dihydrogen, except Dihydrogen has two Hydrogen atoms. However, the Star Trek Dilithium crystal is 2(5)6 dilithium 2(:)l diallosilicate 1:9:1 heptoferranide (Star Trek Next Geration Technical Manual). No deuterium in it.

[@thekopekemaster]

Around ten years ago, I fell up to my neck in what I can only imagine were waste water sludge dumping pits (as it is right next to the water treatment facility). A very thick, gelatinous black sludge that I always referred to as the "nuclear waste dumps". The top layer had frozen over in the winter so I was shoveling it off to skate on it, and right when I was in the middle of it the ice broke. Thankfully I was able to climb out of it somehow despite my heavy winter clothes, and made the trek back to my family's house through the below-freezing temperature. I need to email the facility and find out what that stuff was.

[@furrycircuitry2378]

That's nasty and crazy glad you made it out okay, but sad you were dumb enough to try and ice skate over wastewater back then. Hopefully, you'll do better.

[@andrewschuschu3499]

I worked in the summers at a waste water treatment facility in Ohio for four years while in college! Second stage aeration I believe! It’s much similar to white water rapids or the dynamics of quicksand. You can survive for a bit but it comes down to long term energy output- if there’s no help coming it can be your death. We all had to get safety training on water rescue techniques. People also don’t know how many miles of tunnels there are underneath these facilities- our 55 acre above ground plant had hundreds of miles of tunnels underneath. We had a chlorine gas leak one summer and a bunch of us maintenance interns had to get treated for chlorine gas exposure. Stinkiest, dangerous, but most fun job I’ve ever worked!

[@halnogaies1256]

So what tools and processes do you use to rescue someone who has fallen in?

[@Disruptedable]

As someone who work with human waste every day, I’d just like to say that, even though you might not drown in the flow of “non-bouyant-poop-water”, the contamination will. Just dont take a swim in it. That is all.

[@ItsDaJax]

I don't think I'd work near those vats without a harness and recovery rope, and I just assume they're over 12' deep. I do know you absolutely will sink in giant stills filled with booze.

[@WomanSlayer69420]

Non-buoyant water actually existed in mythology far back too. I remember a Chinese legend where Houyi (the guy who got exiled from heaven for doing his job because apparently the Jade Emperor, like most emperors, was really fucking bad at reasoning) had to cross a perpetually burning mountain full of fire and lava, as well as a *river with water that had no buoyancy* before scaling tall, treacherous cliffs with edges sharp as blades, which, at its peak, lived the god who brewed the elixir of immortality.

[@seantaggart7382]

Hmmm Interesting I wonder This could explain the bermuda triangle issues But opens another issue

[@XiraKira13]

Did he make it ??

[@ssjgeon]

It exists in nature, that's what makes whitewater white, it's hyper aerated.

[@kirk5649]

@@seantaggart7382 what... are you even saying?

[@seantaggart7382]

@@kirk5649 Says right there

[@mikearndt8210]

my summer job is at a water treatment facility and i’ve watched people fall into aeration tanks (as well as clarifiers and other sludge tanks). while it’s certainly no fun to be surrounded by sewage, they’ve always been fine

[@JohnDoe-qv3rf]

10:00 good addition falling into an old style areation basin versus a vertical loop reactor will have quite different outcomes 👍

[@mainpage725]

As a Wastewater Treatment Operator for over 10 years, thank you for bringing Wastewater treatment to the forefront and being a topic of awareness for the public. l

[@thedevilsworkshop7720]

We appreciate the work you do . 😅

[@williammcneill9169]

“One of the most important advancements in society” Appreciate you, king!

[@flickcentergaming680]

On behalf of history, I cannot thank you enough for what you do.

[@huhwhatwho7895]

He

[@ginsuma1402]

Do you come home smelling like poodoo from the Wastewater Treatment plant?

[@ectomorphosis]

Quick clarification: the tanks you show at the beginning when you say "these tanks" are actually Secondary Clarifiers, where the aerated water goes to settle. The water in those tanks is no longer aerated and not "non-buoyant", only Aeration tanks that use diffusion bubblers on the bottom of the tanks to aerate the mixed liquor create the non-buoyant water.

[@mjrippe]

Worst liquor ever 😂

[@caedmonv55]

They don't though as science shows.

[@jonhall2274]

Yup, that's a *MAJOR PROBLEM* with today's people's political beliefs, anti-science people, anti-vaccination propaganda, flat earthers(seems to have died out thankfully), Q canon believers, believing Transgender is real & not actually gender dismorphia, believing Trump is an honest man/"greatest president ever", believing Biden is 100% mentally sharp (he's freaking 75+ with dozens of years dealing with stupid politicians & their even dumber voters) and I can *go on & on, & on with many more examples* of the problem with people extremely uneducated, especially on whatever topic is at hand, using *KZbin videos, Facebook or other social media MEMES, unverified, non-credible, or other ridiculous methods* to try & achieve their ideologies. Has a lot to do with "Crabtree's Bludgeon" & "Ocean's Duct Tape" senarios, with a lack of "Alder's Razor" (look them up, if you don't understand what I was saying by mentioning those).😉 🤷 Common sense is *NOT* so common, in fact, the common person is actually pretty dumb, & when you get a collective of dumb people in a herd mentality, its absolutely near zero possibility to change their mind, even *WITH* indisputable facts/evidence. 🙄 -Sigh 😒

[@jonhall2274]

Its "Occam's Duct Tape" , *NOT* "Ocean's Duct Tape". Not letting me edit on this particular mobile device for some reason. 🤷😒

[@o0alessandro0o]

@@jonhall2274 To edit a youtube comment from an android device, you need to disable the youtube app, open the video in a web browser, and then switch to the desktop version of the youtube page. KZbin has apparently decided that editing your comment is not a feature mobile users should have. Because reasons.

[@jasongalley604]

love your video's dude. This one doesn't disappoint at all.

[@DKVMir]

The quality of this video is so good😍 thank you :)

[@JonPITBZN]

"These signs are a little scarier than they need to be." I mean, the one just says "risk of drowning." I'm pretty sure the scary level of the sign is an exact match to the danger level of the tanks.

[@odonnchadha1978]

Yeah drowning in shit water that no matter how hard you try you can't swim in is nightmare fuel

[@boyankovachev7982]

I love how his epilogue is a minute and a half now, when in the beginning it was about 20-30 sec, or sth like that. I really love how much his channel has grown and that it keeps growing. Kyle, deserves it, he is the best science boy and have taught me a lot of things, and got me interested into, at least, trice as much. I'm sad that I'm a junky and can't help him financially, because I know that when, cuz I'll pledge to him on Patreon, I give him money, it's going to go for a great cause. It being to help more people discover science and understand how important it is for all of us, for without it, we wouldn't progress, and progress is, imo, the current goal of humanity. One love ❤️

[@ButtSauce666]

One love brother

[@fltchr4449]

I like that it scrolls slow enough to read.

[@fl3ckerr999]

youre right i remember that fight with vamp and the mission failed screen from falling in and remember the game telling me to not fall in before the fight i think amd always wondered why that room water was a thing... my buddy doesnt like water too much he claims he always floats about 2 feet under the water surface

[@rognvaldrasbjrn3972]

Return actived sludge plants.. the aerobic reactor section. I used to work on the second largest one in South Africa. A class A works. I was warned about falling in the aerobic reactor with all the diffusers. I was never really tempted to experiment...

[@Gottaculat]

I'd be more concerned about the medical risks of full body exposure to biohazardous waste. Why don't they just put a big net or screen/mesh/grate over the tank? It would allow it to breathe, but not allow a person to fall in.

[@matejondrejka3713]

Probably hard to take of and put on every time you would want to clean it or something

[@oldman8996]

@@matejondrejka3713 and take account the amount of maintenance and money required

[@matejondrejka3713]

@@oldman8996 good point

[@randomshite8272]

@@oldman8996 Some wastewater treatment plants have a mesh/grate over the tanks. It's a safety feature. You can't put a price tag on a human life. If you're afraid of hard work (maintenance work) you should stay away from hard work and build your career at McDonald's.

[@buckfizzard291]

@@randomshite8272 they put a price on your life every day hint it's not much

[@AceSpadeThePikachu]

I've always wondered what would happen if someone fell into a vat of vegetable oil or mineral oil. Since as we all know from elementary school science experiments oil is much less dense than water, and the humabn body is mostly water and thus has an average density similar to water, would a vat of processed kitchen oil be much more worthy of a warning sign like this?

[@TheKiltach]

kitchen oil is about 8% less dense. You wouldn't sink like a stone or anything but alot of people would be close to neutral bouyancy. Instead of just floating on your back or a very light treading you would really have to keep swimming moderately to keep your mouth in the air. So you'd be more likely to drown but if you were a reasonable swimmer and close enough to a way out you would likely be fine assuming you didn't panic.

[@jamesbizs]

You wouldn’t float. But you wouldn’t sink.

[@AceSpadeThePikachu]

@@TheKiltach I see. Interesting.

[@denmark5354]

@@TheKiltach Sounds about right. I think a much denser ''liquid'' that would be impossible to swim in, would be something like syrup or honey.

[@snakevenom4954]

@@denmark5354 You would swim just as well as normal. Although it's thicker, you get more force back when you kick/push the syrup. Mythbusters tried it out and found you swim just as well, no difference

[@clintwilde1048]

One thing I notice in the pic, is that the tank design has changed. I use to go with my dad when he worked at a water works and sewage treatment plant back in the 50's. In the center of what was called the 'digester', the tanks in this picture, there was a vertical tunnel all the way to the bottom where the pumps were located. I see in this pic the pump or at least the motor is at the top. Quite the eerie feeling about being at the bottom of that structure surround by several tens of thousands of gallons of crap, and hope the concrete and steel structure was not built with minimum bid materials.

[@K3V1N117]

You read my mind. The instant I saw the title of this video and the thumbnail I immediately thought of the MGS2 Vamp Boss fight. And the fact that you shouted it out makes this video even better

[@alexandermccalla5098]

The high school I attended has a water treatment facility directly behind the track/football field with the tanks of shit being the closest structures to the school. The smell atrocious, and the staff would refer to it as our homefield advantage. After going on a trip to the plant and being above these pools of crap, we realized that it smells much worse on ground level than actually being right above it.

[@alanr4845]

Was it in South Florida by any chance?

[@Theviewerdude]

Incredible city planning right there lmao. Then again, my city has the waste treatment plant on an island in the middle of the city. It would be prime real estate for an incredible house, business, or park, but nope. That's where we send the poop. You smell it every day driving over the bridge.

[@scooote9478]

@@Theviewerdude wait, you DONT want to build your house in a massive vat of human waste?

[@vanhattfield8292]

That is because the gasses produced are heavier than the atmosphere which means that it it falls to ground level just like water does in an overflowing tub of water.

[@jimturpin]

This is actually quite an interesting video, when I worked offshore, we are taught that if we have an underwater gas blowout, DON'T jump into the water because you will sink. Also, on another point, there are theories that when huge tracts of frozen methane on the bottom of the ocean start to bubble, the density of the water above drops, and causes it to boil/bubble faster causing large areas of ocean to turn over. This was a theory of what causes ships in the Bermuda Triangle to disappear without a trace, that they lost buoyancy and sank.

[@jonhall2274]

Statistically you're *NO more likely* to sink in the Bermuda Triangle, than any other part of the Ocean. Its just since its a part of major shipping routes, it gets more attention. Plus all of the click bait articles & videos & conspiracies have made it far bigger of a problem than it actually is.

[@erikcarrillo7378]

That theory is absolutely terrifying. Just imagine being on a ship and the water around you starts to bubble intensely then you feel the ship begin to tilt. Fuck that's nightmare fuel.

[@jonhall2274]

@@erikcarrillo7378 Even more terrifying, is some would assume (I mean without the knowledge not ever seeing/hearing about this type of event) that the ship somehow created hole in the hull, and that's why it's sinking so quick. That panic, just to see that also every lifeboat is sinking because of the same event happening underneath them. 😱

[@larion2336]

This actually happens to a ship in a movie I saw recently, caused by a gas leak. It was pretty good imo. Called 'The Burning Sea'.

[@shleaumeau7740]

Just fyi statistically there isn’t an unusual number of lost vessels in the Bermuda Triangle compared to similar shipping lanes. There just aren’t any other islands between Bermuda and the Virgin Islands.

[@Zomby_Woof]

When I lived in a house with a septic tank, I was super paranoid whenever the cover was off for clean out. I could visualize myself tripping and falling in and dying by drowning in shit because no one saw me fall in.

[@aaainsley]

I work at a summer camp where we have one of these treatment plants to drain the clean water into the nearby creek. Was literally thinking about this topic and then was recommended the video out of the blue 😳

[@Ass_of_Amalek]

given that aeration from the center of the tank produces a downward flow at the edges of the tanks, I think it would be safer to install the aeration at the edges (if not all over the bottom of the tank). people who fall in would in most cases fall in at the edge and then reflexively try to swim to and hold on to the edge. people think that the edge is where they need to be to get out, but in a centrally aerated tank, the edge is dangerous and the center is the safe part. that's a deadly trap.

[@chromyl_chloride]

well normally people dont expect to fall into some shit-water, so there would be a few moments where they panic and get pushed away from the wall and into the center. atleast when you're pushed to the wall you might be able to grab onto it or kick yourself off. if you're pushed to the center you have to fight the current from pulling you under AND swim to the wall, without any help. the edges are where the ladder and help is.

[@crezychameau]

i think it's designed this way because it's more efficient in terms of waste treatment. The "clean" water gets out by going over the wall, so it would make sense to agitate in the centre, as far away from the wall as possible.

[@piraterubberduck6056]

The downward flow would go faster if it was in the centre. Which is not wanted for the process or for anyone trapped in the tank. Probably better to give them something to grab on to instead.

[@flatfingertuning727]

If the outer edge were aerated and the center not, that would cause water to flow up the outside edges, then horizontally into the center, and then down into the middle there.

[@NormadYT]

Yea but then you just made a hole in the middle where no matter what edge you’re on you’ll be pulled towards the sucky sucky centre

[@ATTACKofthe6STRINGS]

Your last statement is so true. When lives are on the line, the only correct direction to fudge the warning is in the direction of increased danger. If something has the potential to kill someone, a warning sign that makes that possibility sound more present just isn't something I'd waste my time or energy trying to correct (unless the exaggeration was so crassly incorrect as to be useless).

[@1TwistedPoet]

Like D.A.R.E programs. When you LIE to kids, to try to "SCARE Them Straight", it does more harm than good.

[@complainer406]

Disagree. In isolation sure, but in practice a bunch of overstated warnings make people think they can disregard warnings.

[@ATTACKofthe6STRINGS]

@@complainer406 wrong context. I'm not talking about waring people out with too many warnings. I'm talking about what decision a person makes when they don't know the true danger of something, and they're forced with potentially overstating, or understating, the danger. And the decision is, in my opinion, simple. When you don't know what the true danger of something is, you err on the side of caution. Caution means you choose to overstate the warning, rather than understate it.

[@jameseddy6835]

Another great video. Thanks

[@victorm56]

I worked at a WWTP at US Steel. A wood block fell in the aerated tank and immediately sank. Later that day, the air blowers for tank lost power and the aeration quit, the block popped back to the surface and was recovered. We think the down flow away from the aeration grid, caught it and pulled it down.

[@utley]

Theres also this thing where during a ship sinking, the massive columns of air bubbles can form an oxygen elevator shaft that you can fall down through. Of course not talking about the bubbles in micro scale, but the big rolling bubbles that can be over 1-2 feet in diameter.

[@JamesChessman]

“…Massive columns of air bubbles can form an oxygen elevator shaft that you can fall down,” bro nice imagination but there’s no way that’s real, it’s a cartoon imagination

[@utley]

@@JamesChessman how so? all it is is just a stream of bubbles headed towards the surface. just because YOU cant imagine it doesnt make it not real.

[@benwestphal4076]

I thought it was the undertow current from large voids in the ship being filled with water that causes the suction and sometimes unfortunately drowns people. The imagery of a column of bubbles lining up in such a way for a human to actually fall down through is interesting to think about. I guess it could happen, But they tell you to swim away from ships because of the potential undertow, I believe.

[@utley]

@@benwestphal4076 yes there's hydraulic forces that will suck you down too, but a large volume of air from escaping air pockets out of the ships - depending on the size of the bubbles literally make you fall through the water.

[@youngjdet]

@@utley actually this was tested by Myth busters and it's FALSE. A sinking ship will not pull you down with it if you're on top of it. There's no "sinking bubbles" that'll cause you to be pulled under water when a ship is sinking.

[@InMaTeofDeath]

Imagine if there was a place on Earth where this had the same effect but with gravity and it would be possible for an unknowing victim to jump up and be shocked to find himself falling up to the sky.

[@zacharyjackson7444]

I mean, if you fill an angler fish with excess air, they kinda would do that.

[@MattMcIrvin]

Nice idea! It would affect the air, too, which I imagine would make some violent weather! H. G. Wells sort of imagined this in "The First Men in the Moon"--there's this imaginary substance called Cavorite that stops gravity, which the protagonists use to lift their spaceship. The first time they make a sheet of it, it causes this atmospheric fountain that sucks the Cavorite up the chimney. They speculate that if that hadn't happened it could have peeled the atmosphere off the Earth like an orange. Eventually they're more careful and they make these sort of Venetian blinds out of it, which are mounted above and below their ship. When they want to go into space, they just close the blinds below the ship, cancel out the Earth's gravity and get pulled all the way to the Moon. Jules Verne didn't like the story, he said "come on, Wells just made up an antigravity substance, that's cheating. I did all the math for my giant Moon cannon."

[@boygerboy2286]

I've worked in Wastewater Treatment for the last 5 years. Thanks for tackling this subject

[@LibertyFromLead]

My grandad ran a wastewater treatment facility and had two huge concrete tanks out there and two sand filter beds. I used to go with him to work when I was younger and spray the foam down and look at samples under microscopes and stuff. One of the tanks had a set of big metal brushes that churned the water. He always told me to not go out on certain parts in case I tripped but I could climb the steps to look. I remember him telling me I would sink. One guy fell in and drowned. This was all back in the 90's in a small town literally called Littleville Alabama. We called the plant area "The Hill" bc it was up and down a really steep hill to the property it was on. I was about 9 when started going lol. Couldn't do that nowadays.

[@MikaelLevoniemi]

Several gas platforms have sunk when they had a blow out at the seabed. Also sea bed land slides have sunk ships because of released gas pockets.

[@Seph491]

As soon as I saw the title I was thinking of that part in Metal Gear Solid 2. The fact you referenced it has made my day.

[@travcollier]

I'm only 2min in, but surprised he didn't mention Minecraft. Water above magma blocks is aerated and will drag you down (and can sink boats). Oddly, I didn't make the connection til I was now years old ;)

[@Aceg13579]

Agreed

[@redstart67]

Great explaination so now I understand; Eureka! 😃👍

[@loggingout1632]

I can also imagine that these signs are there due to the whole law about safety in work spaces, even when there is no big risk of anything happening, a company would suffer enormous when either the fines for improper signage come or lawsuits about people dying there without any signage indicating they could drown.

[@dcarrnoir]

This was awesome. After watching, I thought, "hey there's a treatment plant I always pass. I remember seeing fire, and it smells. I wonder if it's anaerobic treatment?" So I went to my city's page and found the water pollution control, and was probably the first person to see that page in a long time. Sure enough, it's anaerobic treatment! With 3 treatment steps, after solid removals.

[@thelegendarynarwhal2931]

If you're seeing fire, then it's probably them using burning to get rid of their excess solids. The plant I work at uses a belt press feed system instead to run the waste sludge through a series of rollers to squeeze water out and then the final (mostly dry) product is dropped out on a big pad after being mixed with lime. It's then hauled away in trucks to be used in agriculture. The area around our ditch actually smells quite nice, b/c while the bugs eat the carbon in the solids they release nitrogen gas as their "waste product", which is slightly sweet smelling and just goes up and dissipates in the air.

[@bizzzzzzle]

Aerobic ones smell too, especially when you turn the blowers on to the digesters

[@ChrisPBacon-gn9jx]

I live in a town with a few different abandoned asbestos mines. The water at the bottom of the open pits are a beautiful cyan/blue, but the amount of minerals in the water make it so swimming in it is impossible. First responders have special dive training in the event that somebody decides to try

[@rakino4418]

Why is it impossible to swim there?

[@thefinalcalamity3908]

@@rakino4418 could be completely wrong but it could be the water is less dense causing a person to sink and be unable to rise in such water like how it’s hard to sink in the Dead Sea cause it has to much salt in it making it denser than most body’s of water

[@SeekingTheLoveThatGodMeans7648]

Poisonous?

[@rennyukioni7737]

As a wastewater operator there are more types of aeration then just bubblers. for example at my plant we have floating aerators. I still don't believe you would drown in the water but if you got close enough I can see the possibility of being sucking down since its pulling water into the center of it to spray it in the air.

[@MrGrombie]

Sumps filters in aquariums run in the same principle. It is why we cycle aquariums before sticking in fish to get the beneficial bacteria in the filtration.