SMOKE TESTING IN BUENA VISTA
The City of Saskatoon will be conducting sanitary sewer “smoke” testing in the Buena Vista neighbourhood on Thursday, July 16, as part of an investigation into reports of sewer odours in the area.
During the testing the 1100 block of Coy Avenue will be blocked off to traffic as a non-toxic liquid smoke product is vented into the sewer system through a manhole at Coy Avenue and 8th Street. The smoke, which replicates the properties of invisible sewer gases, will be tracked through the system to identify weak points or small openings where sewage or gas could escape and cause an odour.
While the test is being carried out thick, white smoke will be visible exiting from the vent stacks and rooftop drains on houses, catch basins, yard drains tied to the sanitary sewer system, and from any holes or cracks in the contained area. It is possible for the smoke to enter a home through rarely used drain traps. To prevent this, residents in the testing area have been advised to run water into all drains for one minute the morning of the testing.
The smoke itself is an odourless, oil-based product that appears thick and white when activated. It is completely a non-toxic material that has been safely used for testing and simulations for over 20 years.
Testing will begin late morning Thursday, July 16 and run throughout the afternoon.