Meet the man who swims through human excrement, toxic waste, and rotting cadavers to keep Mexico City's wastewater where it belongs.
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They\u2019re the bowels of one of the world\u2019s largest and most polluted cities, where disease runs rampant and the stench is sickening. Human excrement, toxic waste, rotting cadavers\u2026all flowing right beneath the sidewalk.
The sewers of Mexico City are as disgusting as any on earth.
But this man, Carlos Barrios, has just given up a comfortable desk job for the opportunity to swim in them.
It\u2019s 3 o\u2019clock in the afternoon and Carlos is pulling a dead dog out of the sewer. He\u2019s making sure that the waste water of Mexico City stays where it belongs.
SOUNDBITE (English)
\u201cWe pull up all the things you can imagine. You can see chairs, cars, all kind of wastes. Anything you like, it\u2019s in the drains.\u201d
SUPER CAPTION: Carlos Barrios, Sewer Diver
Located in a massive basin, Mexico City is a crowded, industrial colossus. Its sewer lines stretch for thousands of miles, some following channels dug by the Aztecs. The sewers are severely overtaxed> Not only must they accommodate run-off from the mountains, but also the waste from the toilets and sinks of 19 million people.
The slightest blockage can send sewage flowing into the streets and subways, or worse, into the homes of thousands.
At age 45, Carlos decided to leave his job as an accountant to join the team that keeps these sewers flowing.
SOUNDBITE (English)
\u201cI had worked for the city about 24 years. When I get bored with the office job, the opportunity came for me to dive and I took it. It was a great change for me. I changed my life completely.\u201d
SUPER CAPTION: Carlos Barrios, Sewer Diver
Back at the base, the team receives an emergency call. The Alculco Pumping Plant has a mysterious blockage and it needs to be cleared immediately. Once again, the dirty job falls to Carlos.
NAT SOUND (Spanish translated to English)
\u201cBe calm and careful. If anything happens, don\u2019t despair. I will be the one to make decisions. We will be very safe. It is Carlos\u2019s life, so we will be careful.\u201d
Carlos has no idea what to expect. Garbage and human waste aren\u2019t the only things dumped into these sewers. Julio\u2019s team alone has hauled out more than a dozen corpses, most of them murder victims.
Alone in this dark, claustrophobic environment, Carlos must remain calm and focused. Confusion can mean death.
Carlos tries not to think about the soup of bacteria he\u2019s swimming in, including tetanus, typhoid and cholera. His suit protects him, but it isn\u2019t armor. A sharp puncture could wreak havoc.
SOUNDUP (English)
\u201cIf the suit is cut and you cut your skin also, you have to get to the hospital because of the environment. It\u2019s very contaminated.\u201d
SUPER CAPTION: Carlos Barrios, Sewer Diver
After a half-hour search, Carlos locates the obstruction.
NAT SOUND (Spanish translated to English)
\u201cThere is a metallic object. I\u2019m going to touch it to see what it is.\u201d
\u201cRoger.\u201d
The obstruction turns out to be a rusty wheel from an old sewage pump. Once they\u2019ve located it, the team makes swift work of the problem.
It\u2019s been a successful mission for Carlos. But before he can undress, he must be washed and scrubbed down with a disinfectant.
In his new job, Carlos has found a renewed sense of purpose.
SOUNDBITE (English)
\u201cI feel like I be someone who makes people live better. That kind of sense of being good, being helpful and to be in a job that makes the people have a good service.\u201d
SUPER CAPTION: Carlos Barrios, Sewer Diver
With infinite amounts of sewage to tend to, Carlos has got plenty to keep him busy in the bowels of Mexico City.
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