Council approves smoke tests

    Washington residents need not be alarmed when they see smoke coming from their rooftop sewer vents in the next few weeks. The city will be conducting a smoke test of its sanitary sewer system to uncover where unauthorized water, such as rainwater, is entering the sanitary sewer. 

    Zoning and Building Official Jason Geyer addressed the Washington City Council Wednesday night concerning the smoke test. Geyer said the smoke test will begin within two weeks and could begin as early as next week. He said residents will be notified via an informational door hanger at least 24 hours prior to the testing in their neighborhood. City officials will not request entry into homes but will be available in the neighborhood under testing to answer questions.

    Geyer told the council that the city tested the procedure Tuesday on pipes near the wastewater treatment plant. He said they tested an area roughly 1.5 city blocks in size and that the test went as planned.

    He said the smoke will not leave residuals or stains and will not set off smoke alarms. It is non-toxic and does not harm humans, animals or plants. However, Geyer told the council that people with asthma or other respiratory issues should leave their homes during the testing to avoid any potential problems. Residents who are unable to leave their homes should contact Geyer at 653-1534 to discuss their situation in further detail.

    Geyer recommended that residents crack their windows prior to testing to allow the smoke to quickly exit their house. He also recommended that residents pour a gallon of water down their drains to create a water ?trap,? which prevents sewer gases from entering the home.

    The city will pump a highly visible mist through the sanitary sewer, which will eventually find its way to the surface. Where the smoke exits indicates where water is entering the sanitary sewer. If smoke is seen coming from indoor drains, gutters, downspouts or yards, it means that rainwater is entering the sanitary sewer instead of the storm sewer, causing unnecessary strain on the wastewater treatment plant.

    City Engineer Don McDonald informed the council that South Ninth Avenue, Polk Street and a section of Fifth Street would be repaved next year. He said that the application for funding was recently approved by the Iowa Department of Transportation and the East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG).    

    The council also discussed a letter they received from Washington County Public Health, requesting the use of the second floor of the old library. Edie Nebel, public health administrator, said her organization is currently running clinics out of the Mennonite Church each month. She said it is inconvenient to have to set up and take down their equipment each month.

    Nebel also said public health operates the Parents as Teachers (PAT) program from an office on the fifth floor of the Federation Bank building. She said their office isn?t large enough to adequately house the six staff persons and their inventory.

For the full story, see the Oct. 22 edition of The Washington Evening Journal