What is a Manhole?
A manhole, or maintenance hole, is a tube which connects underground utilities to the surface. The tube is large enough to accommodate the body of a utility worker, and is covered with a top that is flush to the ground, and called a manhole cover. Manholes can be found connected to water and sewer systems, along with electrical and fiberoptic cabling. In all cases, manholes are located at primary junctions, and sometimes at intervals along the utility line, to allow workers easy access to potential problems. In some instances, a manhole leads into an underground utility vault, an enlarged room where switching equipment can be found. An underground vault may be accessed on a routine basis, to hook up new customers, perform safety checks, and ensure that other key maintenance is performed. Typically, the underground vault will be relatively small, able to accommodate one utility worker at a time. In very large underground systems, manholes connect to a series of underground pipes, some o
