Smoke plumes reveal places where groundwater or rainwater may be entering sanitary sewer lines.
Some of the sewer covers had to be dug up to accommodate testing.
Smoke plumes reveal places where groundwater or rainwater may be entering sanitary sewer lines. Once smoke begins to appear, crews mark the spot with spray paint.
If sewer lines in homes and businesses are properly connected, the smoke should be seen exiting the sewer vent pipes on the roof.
If sewer lines in a home are damaged, not vented correctly, or improperly installed, smoke may enter the building and be seen exiting places other than the vent pipe.
Stratford Public Works Director Phil Idell marks line deficiencies with flags and paint.
The smoke generated by special smoke candles (the blue cylinder near the bottom of photo) is blown through sewer lines with a blower motor. The smoke travels for about a city block while crews watch for escaping smoke, marking those spots with paint and flags.
Plumes of smoke revealed uncapped sewer clean-outs, broken pipes and other deficiencies in Stratford's sanitary sewer lines as the town smoke tested its sewer system Wednesday. Phil Idell, public works director for Stratford, said the testing process was moving quicker than expected and, as of Wednesday morning, crews had found fewer problems with city lines than anticipated. Oklahoma Rural Wat...
