The Sandhog Project

This summer I'm working with Groundswell and a new group of teens on a water-conservation mural for the DEP. As part of our research, we were fortunate to meet photojournalist Gina LeVay, creator of the Sandhog Project.

The Sandhogs- Union Local 142- are urban miners who are currently digging a third water tunnel for all of NYC. This tunnel was began in 1970 to both bring more water to the ever growing population, and to make it possible to drain the first two tunnels, built at the turn of the 19th century, which are in need of major repairs.

The Sandhogs, like all miners, have the most dangerous jobs in the world. They've lost 24 men for the 24 miles of tunnel already mined. Without their hard work and sacrifice, we would have no subway tunnels, no Brooklyn Bridge, and of course no water.

Gina LeVay's extensive photo and video project began as a website created in grad school, and led to a huge exhibition in Grand Central Station. She's now working on a book about the Sandhogs- who themsleves are now looking at their own TV series on the History Channel.

Check out Gina's work here:
The Sandhog Project, Gina LeVay


Photo by Gina LeVay