City to start sewer line smoke tests on Monday
By From staff reports
Published in News on November 17, 2013 1:50 AM
The city of Goldsboro will begin testing its sewer system on Monday, searching for leaks that allow rainwater to get into the lines, causing inflated sewage processing costs.
Hydrostructures, a Pittsboro company hired to do the testing, will pump a non-toxic smoke into the pipes to see where rainwater is entering the system.
Leaks will be revealed by smoke escaping to the surface at any above-ground opening.
The smoke is harmless and is not a fire hazard, city officials say.
The testing came about after an inflow and infiltration study by Hydrostructures showed that the city was processing a lot of rainwater along with its sewage at the wastewater treatment plant.
Processing unnecessary volumes of water inflates sewage prices over time.
Testing will begin near Stoney Creek Park on Monday and move west to John Street by the end of the week. It will then be halted over the week of Thanksgiving, and will resume on Dec. 2 in the area of Royall and Spence avenues before moving over to William Street.
Residents are asked to pour a gallon of water into rarely used drains in their homes to avoid smoke rising out of them. The water will settle in the lines to keep smoke from rising into buildings.
In the case of inclement weather, testing could be delayed because of heavy precipitation, but would pick up again after the runoff cleared out of the lines.
Anyone with questions or concerns is asked to call Phillip Martindale at 919-690-7826.
People also are asked to not hesitate to call 911 if they aren't sure whether the smoke is part of the testing or from a fire.