The City of Des Moines will be performing sewer smoke testing in the Drake area sometime in the next two weeks. During the examination, a dense grayish/white smoke will be blown through the sanitary sewer lines from manholes. Smoke may appear from roof drains, catch basins or vent stacks. In addition, the smoke may appear from cracks in the pavement above the sewer lines, from lawns or around buildings with foundation drains and in basements by way of floor drains, sinks, or other plumbing fixtures.

The smoke used for the tests is non-staining and will disappear rapidly without leaving a residual odor. The testing should be completed by Oct. 26. If you have questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact Environmental Health and Safety Director Chris Nickell at 271-3804.

—Submitted by Andrea McDonough, Senior Administrative Services Specialist