Smoke Testing
What is Smoke Testing?
Smoke testing is used to detect any water other than wastewater entering the sewer system. This water could be coming from roof leaders, cross connections between the wastewater and stormwater systems, cleanouts, driveway and yard drains, damage to the wastewater system, loose joints in the wastewater pipes, etc. Smoke testing is an inexpensive and effective way to quickly identify inflow sources. Inflow can lead to sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs), which the City needs to eliminate due to a State Order of Consent with the Department of Environmental Quality and because they are bad for the environment.
Where smoke can come up from the sewer (courtesy of Superior Signal Company, LLC)
How does Smoke Testing work?
City crews position a blower at a manhole and blow smoke down into it. The smoke then travels down the sewer. If there are any openings along the way, some of the smoke will escape through the opening. Smoke may appear to be coming from holes in the ground or vent stacks on houses.
Smoke coming from vents in house roof
After blowing smoke into the line, the City crew will look to see where smoke is escaping. Locations where smoke is coming from are identified with a white board and photographed.
Smoke coming from ground from damaged lateral
Smoke coming from storm drain cross connection
Is the Smoke dangerous?
The smoke used by the City is odorless and is not hazardous, toxic, or flammable. It is manufactured specifically for this purpose. The smoke may make you cough, but it is not harmful to your health. The smoke will not harm clothing, drapes, or furniture. The smoke is also not harmful to your pets or plants. Smoke that gets in buildings dissipates quickly and leaves no residue or stains. In the cases listed above, there is a potential for sewer gas to enter the residence. Immediate action should be taken on the part of the homeowner to repair the problem.
Residential Notification
Before we smoke test the sanitary sewer system, we will notify residents of the dates we will be testing (Sample Smoke Testing Letter to Residents). Please read below to see what you should do prior to the start of the smoke testing.
Important Instructions for Residents Prior to Smoke Testing:
- When you are notified that smoke testing is going to occur in your neighborhood you should make sure that all traps under basins (including garage sinks), washing facilities, and floor drains have water in them. This can be done by pouring three cups of water in them or running the faucet for 60 seconds. This will help prevent smoke from entering your home.
- If you have pets and are not going to be home when smoke testing is being conducted, it would be a good idea to leave several windows partially open for ventilation, should any smoke enter the building.
- If smoke gets into the house, contact Public Works Wastewater Division at 757-933-2311. Open your windows for ventilation and the smoke will soon dissipate.
- Smoke should not enter your house. If it does, it may be an indication of a defect in your plumbing. This defect could allow sewer gases to enter your house. Sewer gases can be a health hazard. The correction of these defects in your plumbing is the responsibility of the homeowner. A licensed plumber should be consulted to make the corrections properly.
Smoke Testing Results
After Smoke Testing, Closed Circuit Television work is completed on these lines (CCTVed) to look for the defects that smoke testing indicated and others that smoke testing did not show. The Collector Operations Supervisor will review the results of the smoke testing and the video and determine what work needs to be done to City system to eliminate these smoke sources. Work could include adding cleanout caps, repairing or replacing City laterals, or repairing or replacing City sewer mains. Work will be scheduled.
Smoke sources on private property will be turned over to the Wastewater Inspector who will visit the homeowner and make them aware of these sources, and their responsibility to correct them. The Wastewater Inspector will follow up with a letter explaining the problem. The Inspector will give a date when the smoke defect needs to be corrected by. Some corrections are easy to complete and could possibly be accomplished by the homeowner, such as disconnecting roof leaders or down spouts from the sanitary lateral or replacing a cleanout cap that is broken or missing.
Smoke coming from Roof Leader
The City may give the homeowner more time to correct more difficult corrections that require a licensed plumber. These corrections could include laterals that are cracked or have been invaded by tree roots, or rerouting of drainage. Fixing defects benefits everyone. It prevents SSOs, saving the City and ultimately the sewer user from paying fines, and it is better for the environment.
Correcting I/I Sources from your property
Cleanout Caps
Cleanout caps that are not sealed tight, cracked or broken, or missing can allow stormwater into the sewer system. Cleanout caps are easy to change. Cleanout caps can be purchased at your local hardware store.
Smoke coming out of Cleanout missing a cap
Roof Leaders
Roof leaders connected to the sewer system can add as much as 800 gallons of stormwater to the sewer system in a one inch rain event. This connection to the sewer system must be disconnected to prevent SSOs from occurring. Disconnection is easy. Cut the downspout. Insert a horizontal spout out five feet away from the house. Plug the ground pipe.
Roof Leader disconnected from sewer system; Former connection to sewer system plugged
Ground
There is a possibility of a broken private sewer lateral where smoke came up from the ground. These breaks can range from root intrusion, to a cracked portion of pipe or misaligned joints or an offset section of pipe. These can cause the lateral to plug or collapse. This would cause a sewer backup in your house. A licensed sewer contractor can CCTV your sewer lateral to see exactly where problems exist.
Smoke coming up through ground from private lateral