Smoke Testing - Fall of 2024; November 12th to 15th

SMOKE TESTING

The City of Harrisburg is required to conduct annual smoke testing on sewer lines in town.  The purpose of the test is to eliminate excess ground water and storm water called (I & I) or Inflow and Infiltration, from entering our sewer lines. 

During testing, you may experience smoke around your property.  Smoke may be seen coming from roof vents, building foundations, clean outs or manhole covers (this is supposed to happen.)   The smoke will not enter your home if the home is properly plumbed and vented, and all your sink, tub and floor drains have had some water in them recently.  Please add water to drains rarely used to avoid smoke entering your home.  Smoke is a non-toxic, odorless substance which is clean and harmless to humans, pets, food, and material goods.

Presence of smoke in your home should be reported to City Hall, at (541)995-6655, or to the City crews working in the area.  Please avoid unnecessary exposure to the smoke.  The smoke is harmless, but smoke of any kind can be irritating to nasal passages for some people.

Public Works crews will be visually inspecting both the front and back of the property for any possible signs of leaks.  Please inform the onsite crew of any hazards such as very protective dogs.  If they identify possible locations of I&I, they will be marking the area and taking pictures. 

Eliminating excess amounts of I & I is required by the State of Oregon.  When testing is conducted, the City will be notifying property owners if problems were identified or found on their property. 

If you have questions regarding smoke testing, please contact City Hall at (541) 995-6655.

More Information in Regards to Smoke Testing

What Is Smoke Testing?

Smoke testing is used to detect any water other than wastewater entering the sewer system. This
water could be coming from roof leaders, cross connections between the wastewater and storm water
systems, clean outs, driveway and yard drains, damage to the wastewater system, loose joints in the
wastewater pipes, etc. Smoke testing is an inexpensive and effective way to quickly identify inflow
and infiltration (I & I) sources. I & I can lead to sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs), which the City
needs to eliminate due to State of Oregon and Department of Environmental Quality rules and because
they are bad for the environment.

How does Smoke Testing work?

City crews position a blower at a manhole and blow smoke down into it. The smoke then travels down
the sewer. If there are any openings along the way, some of the smoke will escape through the
opening. Smoke may appear to be coming from holes in the ground or vent stacks on houses

Important Instructions for Residents Prior to Smoke Testing:

•     When you are notified that smoke testing is going to occur in your neighborhood you should
make sure that all traps under basins (including garage sinks), washing facilities, and floor
drains have water in them. This can be done by pouring 3 cups of water in them or running the
faucet for 60 seconds. This will help prevent smoke from entering your home.
• If you have pets and are not going to be home when smoke testing is being conducted, it would be
a good idea to leave several windows partially open for ventilation, should any smoke enter the
building
•   If smoke gets into the house, contact City Hall at 541-995-6655                                                       
 Open your windows for ventilation and the smoke will soon dissipate.
•     Smoke should not enter your house. If it does, it may be an indication of a defect in your
plumbing. This defect could allow sewer gases to enter your house. Sewer gases can be a health
hazard. The correction of these defects in your plumbing is the responsibility of the homeowner. A
licensed plumber should be consulted to make the corrections properly.

Is the Smoke dangerous?

The smoke used by the City is odorless and is not hazardous, toxic, or flammable. It is
manufactured specifically for this purpose. The smoke may make you cough, but it is not harmful to
your health. The smoke will not harm clothing, drapes, or furniture. The smoke is also not harmful
to your pets or plants. Smoke that gets in buildings dissipates quickly and leaves no
residue or stains.