Why do the sewers in Detroit give off a haze in the Winter?

Question

Someone told me it's steam heat?

Answer 1

Someone was right. In many older cities in the east, not only do gas, electricity, sewer and telephone run under the streets, there are sources of steam as well.

That water vapor you see rising up is because the cold damp air is being heated and is rising out of the streets. Since Detroit is a cold city with a good deal of precipitation that lays around in the winter, when it is heated up, it rises, and then hits the cold air and condenses but keeps rising.

Answer 2

because the sewers are full of sewage which is hotter than the outside air over the manholes and the temp difference is what makes the steam or haze and smell if you get to close

Answer 3

Yes, it's probably steam due to the difference in the temperature of the sewage and the cold winter air.

Answer 4

It is steam.
Born and raised in Detroit. However you see it more downtown Detroit than any place else.

Go Red Wings

Answer 5

methane gas, escapes from the sewer and condeses when it hits cold air

Answer 6

umm