A colossal machine called the "Lady Bird" is boring a huge tunnel under Washington, D.C., to channel storm water for treatment, keeping runoff out of the city's notoriously polluted rivers. The $30 million machine is named for Lady Bird Johnson, who, as First Lady of the United States, had advocated for cleaner rivers around the nation's capital. ➡ Subscribe: http://bit.ly/NatGeoSubscribe About National Geographic: National Geographic is the world's premium destination for science, exploration, and adventure. Through their world-class scientists, photographers, journalists, and filmmakers, Nat Geo gets you closer to the stories that matter and past the edge of what's possible. Get More National Geographic: Official Site: http://bit.ly/NatGeoOfficialSite Facebook: http://bit.ly/FBNatGeo Twitter: http://bit.ly/NatGeoTwitter Instagram: http://bit.ly/NatGeoInsta Click to learn more about the "Lady Bird" and the tunnel it's digging: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/07/140703-combined-sewer-overflow-washington-storm-water-tunnel/ PRODUCER AND VIDEOGRAPHER: Jason Kurtis EDITOR: Nick Lunn Why a Giant Machine Is Digging a Tunnel Under D.C. | National Geographic https://youtu.be/ikPCOhhn4fw National Geographic https://www.youtube.com/natgeo