If you happen to be in the Stratford area next week, you may have the opportunity to notice smoke lingering in some unusual places. Don't be alarmed. It's likely just coming from the sewer lines.
The town of Stratford is planning to conduct smoke testing on its sanitary sewer lines March 1-3. The test is a relatively simple process that helps crews identify sewer line breaks and other deficiencies, both in the town’s lines and in customer lines, according to Stratford Public Works Director Phil Idell. Crews will use smoke candles and blower machines that fit on manhole openings to blow smoke through sewer main lines in a particular area.
If everything is working correctly and the sewer lines are connected properly, with no line breaks, property owners should expect to see smoke coming out of the sewer vent pipe at the top of their home or business structure.
But the test can also cause some unusual sights, as smoke escapes from manhole covers, broken pipes in the ground and other areas where breaches might exist, often causing alarm for residents who may be unaware of the process.
“We’ve heard it’s not uncommon for people to think parts of town are on fire,” Town Administrator Karen Lambert said.
Town officials have been distributing information about the process to residents in recent weeks, including sending a letter to residents explaining how to prepare and what to expect.
The letter explains the smoke used is odorless, non-toxic, and non-staining and has been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency to be used in areas where people and pets are present.
It also cautions that smoke can enter homes through broken or improperly installed pipes and through dry or unused P traps in sinks. The letter advises running water through P trap drains that may be dry, or not frequently used, to create a barrier preventing the smoke from entering. Residents who do have smoke in their homes or businesses, should open windows to allow the smoke to dissipate.
The testing will be done over three days, with crews working in different areas of town each day.
Crews have been updating town mapping of sewer lines in recent weeks, adding updated information and marking known deficiencies, Idell said. Once that process is completed, they will decide where to start the smoke testing.
Idell said the town is partnering with the Oklahoma Rural Water Association to complete the work. Stratford’s Board of Trustees recently signed an agreement with ORWA to assist in developing a long-range sustainability plan for the town’s water and sewer systems.
The main purpose of next week’s testing is to identify infiltration and inflow issues, places where groundwater or rainwater is getting into sewer pipes, so those can be repaired. The extra water in sanitary sewer lines puts a strain on the town’s wastewater treatment systems and can contribute to sewage backups in homes and businesses.
Stratford is currently under consent orders from the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality for infiltration and inflow issues with its sanitary sewer lines.
Smoke testing will also reveal any problems with sewer lines on privately owned properties. If residents identify problems on their side of the sewer lines, they will need to contact a licensed plumber to make repairs, Idell said. Whether residents are required by the town to make repairs will likely depend on the type of deficiency identified.
Idell said he anticipates the most common problem for property owners will be missing or broken sewer caps on sewer cleanouts, which is usually simple and inexpensive to fix.
If a customer’s deficiencies are contributing to excessive amounts of groundwater or rainwater entering the town’s sewer lines, they will most likely be required to make repairs, Idell said.
Residents with concerns about the smoke can call Town Hall and crews will come to investigate, but Idell stressed they cannot repair or perform maintenance on plumbing on private property.
Stratford residents with questions about the smoke testing may contact Stratford Town Hall at 580-759-2371.
