I grew up in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia and we would lower the liitlest guy by his feet to scoop up all the pimple balls. Took great courage and faith in those at the ankles to come back up with a coupla’ balls we could cut in half to play Halfsies.
I guess our sewers weren’t as deep as yours; about 5 feet to the water line. Well we were close to the Delaware River too!