DECATUR, Ala. — Decatur Utilities will begin its annual smoke testing of portions of the sanitary sewer system on Monday, July 29th and continuing for several weeks. The attached map shows the locations of this work in red.
Video Industrial Services will be performing this work and will have “DU Authorized Contractor” magnets on all vehicles being used. A DU representative will be present at each testing site for the duration of this project.
Customers can follow DU on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter to get daily updates on areas where smoke testing crews will be working.
The process involves injecting a NON-TOXIC smoke into the sanitary sewer system to identify defects in piping and sanitary sewer connections where groundwater and storm water can infiltrate the system.
Smoke may be seen coming out manhole covers, roof vents, foundations, catch basins, clean-outs or broken sewer laterals. This is a normal part of the testing process. Residents and business owners should notice no smoke inside their home or business if it is properly plumbed, vented and drain traps are filled with water.
Residents and business owners in the test areas have been notified by mail and phone. 24 hours prior to testing in their immediate area, residents and business owners will be notified again. At this point, DU asks that they pour two gallons of water into sinks or other plumbing fixtures THAT ARE SELDOM USED so that drain traps are filled with water prior to testing.
Additional information, a video on the process and what to expect are available at:
