Politics & Government

Smoke Testing of Sewer System Continuing Through End of Month

Residents seeing white smoke from manhole covers should not be alarmed. This is part of an ongoing smoke testing of the sanitary sewer system.

As a reminder to forestall any worries if residents see white smoke coming from sewer manhole covers, we would like to remind residents that the City of Woburn will be conducting smoke testing on portions of the sanitary sewer system from 8 to 5 p.m. until July 31. 

According to the City of Woburn, testing will be performed in the south section of the city. The area is generally located in the area bound by Route 128 to the north, Horn Pond to the west, Town of Winchester to the south, and Washington Street to the east.

During the test, white smoke will be introduced to the sanitary sewer systems via a smoke-generating machine. During this procedure, white smoke will be venting from holes in manhole covers located in the street and from plumbing vent pipes located on or near your roof surface. This is normal and should not cause alarm.

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Smoke should not enter your premises unless there is either a dry trap in an unused fixture or a plumbing defect. You may wish to pour two gallons of water down your basement floor drain or unused plumbing fixture to ensure that the drain trap will be effective.

Should smoke be detected within your building, do not be alarmed. The smoke is non-toxic, non-staining, and dissipates quickly through open windows. If you have a lung ailment or respiratory condition, such as asthma or emphysema, stay away from the smoke. Any smoke within a building should be immediately reported to the persons conducting the tests.

Find out what's happening in Woburnwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Weston & Sampson Engineers Inc. company vehicles are black with the company name on the sides and their personnel will be wearing blue shirts with the Weston & Sampson markings and a current Weston & Sampson ID card.

Any questions should be directed to Weston & Sampson at (978) 977-0110 ext. 2101. Leave a message including your name, address, and telephone number and you will be responded to promptly.


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