What is Sewer Line Smoke Testing?

What is Sewer Line Smoke Testing?

Sewer Line Smoke Testing entails blowing inert smoke into the sanitary sewer manholes to check for leaks, breaks, and defects in the system. This procedure has been approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as an effective means of identifying problem areas in the sewer system. This is part of our city’s continued effort to provide a safe and efficient sewer system.

Some sewer lines and manholes are located alongside resident's backyards. Thus, City staff may need to enter properties to access those sewer lines and manholes for testing. Property owners do not need to be present, and workers will not enter your home or disturb your property.

It is normal to see smoke exiting the vent stacks on house rooftops. However, smoke coming from holes in the ground or roof gutters is not normal and is considered a defect. All such defects will be photographed and logged by City staff.

It is normal to see lots of white/gray smoke around your neighborhood during smoke testing. Do not be alarmed by this smoke, and do not call the Fire Department unless you see black smoke or have good reason to believe there is an actual fire to report.

If smoke testing is occurring in your neighborhood, you can help the City in advance of the testing date by:

• Running one gallon of water into all seldom used drains and flush toilets. This will prevent smoke from entering your house through plumbing connections.

• Notifying the City at 254-865-8951 if there is any individual in your home who has respiratory problems and is immobile.

This approved test method is non-toxic, non-flammable, leaves no residuals or stains, and is not harmful to plants and animals. In the foreseen event that there are any signs of this inert smoke inside your home or business, please exit the building and report immediately to the personnel conducting the tests outside, or call 254-865-8951. Thereafter, open doors and windows to ventilate the building and relocate any people and pets to fresh air until the smoke has cleared.