Smoke testing of the combined sewers, sanitary sewers, and storm sewers will take place on Friday October 9, 2020 for Project 8 & 9 Sewer Separation project scope area (Mettabrook, Allen, West, Sanderson, and portions of W. Garfield and Browning). This testing is scheduled to take one day. The study will involve opening manholes in the streets and public utility easements and blowing smoke through the sewers with a portable blower. An important task of the testing will be to locate defects in the sewer system. The smoke testing will also reveal sources where storm water and other surface waters enter the sanitary sewer or combined sewer system.
A special, non-toxic smoke will be used in these tests. The smoke is manufactured for this purpose. It leaves no residuals or stains, and has no effect on plant or animal life. The smoke has a distinctive, but not unpleasant, odor. Visibility and odor of the smoke lasts only a few minutes, where there is adequate ventilation.