Upcoming Smoke Testing of the Erving Sewer System
The Town of Erving, MA will be conducting smoke testing investigations starting the week of October 25, 2021 in some areas of the Town. If smoke testing is to be conducted on your street, field crews will provide a notification flyer approximately one week before the work is to occur. These investigations are part of ongoing sanitary sewer infiltration and inflow reduction work required to be completed by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. These investigations are being conducted to identify sources of extraneous water that discharge into its sanitary sewers.
The testing involves blowing white smoke into the sanitary sewer lines in the street and observing/recording where the smoke leaks out. The smoke is harmless, odorless, non-staining, and leaves no residue. A Material Safety Data Sheet can be provided upon request. The smoke will not enter your house or building unless there are defects in your sanitary plumbing. Although unlikely, should smoke enter your building, do not be alarmed. Simply open the windows, and then notify the crew in the street that smoke has entered your building. Please be assured that the smoke will disappear quickly. Prior to testing, you can reduce the chances of smoke entering your building by pouring about a gallon of water down each sink and flush each toilet in your home. This will allow water to fill each trap (bend in the piping under the fixture), which will in turn prevent the smoke from entering the building.
The smoke testing is being coordinated by the Town of Erving’s engineering consultant, Tighe & Bond, Inc., and will be conducted by EST Associates, Inc. Representatives of these firms will carry photo identification and EST vehicles will be clearly labeled with the company name and phone number. The hours for testing are between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. The Fire and Police Departments will be notified on a daily basis of all smoke testing work locations.
If you suffer from lung or respiratory ailments, please contact EST at (781) 455-0003 and special arrangements will be made.
If you have any specific questions regarding the smoke testing, please contact the Wastewater Department at (413) 423-3500, or Jacob Weinrich, Project Manager for Tighe & Bond at (413) 875-1635.