Michigan city using smoke to detect stormwater leaks into sewers

MUSKEGON, MI, OCTOBER 24, 2016 -- The Muskegon Chronicle is reporting that crews in the Michigan-area city will start blowing smoke into sanitary sewer lines to find leaks today.

Crews are looking to find areas where stormwater is seeping into the wastewater treatment plant from street, parking lot and building roof drains. The city, which spends about a half million dollars each year on treating wastewater, anticipates that results of the test will help to eliminate the added costs associated with the uneccesary treatment of stormwater.

Smoke testing works by using fans to blow white smoke into a pipe or sewer line, and looking for areas where smoke rises, indicating a leak.

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