COURTENAY, B.C. – A smoke test is on tap in the City of Courtenay this month.
The City will be conducting a smoke test of the sanitary sewer system in three areas from Aug. 19 to 24.
They include:
- First Street (Puntledge Park) neighbourhood between Menzies Avenue and Powerhouse Road;
- Downtown Courtenay and surrounding streets; and
- Valleyview Drive and Trumpeter Crescent near Back Road.
Smoke testing is a commonly-used method to evaluate sewers, identify failed sanitary sewers, and locate connections between sanitary and storm sewers.
This testing is performed by blowing a harmless vapour into a sewer.
The “smoke” is not a real smoke, but rather a mist containing a large percentage of moisture.
It is highly visible at low concentrations. The mist is expected to exit from manholes, the sewer stack at the top of homes, catch basins and downspouts.
The smoke is non-toxic, leaves no residue or stains, and has no impact on plants or animals, according to a city release.
However, if mist enters your home or business, it may signal plumbing defects in your home.
Contact Public Works Services at 250-338-1525 for more information.
The city warns that getting too close to the smoke as having any direct contact to it can cause minor respiratory irritation in some people.
If you are within the testing areas and people in your building or residence have asthma, emphysema or some other respiratory condition, and are planning to remain in the building during the testing, notify the City of Courtenay Public Works Department at 250-338-1525 to discuss each case in detail.
