In the next few days, inspection crews working for Bryant Public Works will be conducting a physical survey of a portion of the sanitary sewer system. Workers will be accessing manholes in order to “smoke test” sewer pipe and locate defects in the system.
The smoke that is visible from the vent stacks on houses or holes in the ground is non-toxic, harmless and creates no fire hazard. The smoke should not enter your home unless you have defective plumbing or dried up drain traps. If you have seldom-used drains, pour water in the drain to fill the trap, which should prevent smoke from entering. Drain traps should always be filled with water to prevent sewer gases or odors from entering the building. If the smoke enters through faulty plumbing, the potential exists for sewer gases to enter your home or establishment and you should consult a licensed plumber to fix the problem. Some sewer lines and manholes may be located in backyards. Whenever these lines require investigation, members of the inspection crews will need access to the sewer lines and manholes. These crews are RJN personnel and will be identified with uniforms and badges. Homeowners do not need to be home and at no time will field crews have to enter your business or residence. Smoke testing will require a few days in your area. The information gained from this study will be used to improve sewer services.