I/I Smoke Testing

[PWI]

I'm interested in knowing if anyone has any information and/or experience about smoke testing sewer systems? I've seen it done and have analyzed results of a smoke test, but I haven't actually performed one myself. So I'm interested in learning any tips or tricks for completing the testing. I would also need to rent the necessary equipment to perform the smoke test so if you know of any equipment rental companies where I could get a blower and some smoke sticks, that would help too. Also, if you have completed this type of test, how much did you charge the client to do so? Thanks in advance!

 

[Guest]

I was present during a smoke test for the sewer main that ran along the frontside of a facility that I regulate for hazardous waste clean-up. There was some suspicion that the sewer line was infiltrating because of a very localized depression in the potentiometric surface near the lift station. Moreover, there was an exfiltration gallery that ran parallel to the sewer line so you should have seen a MOUND instead of a dimpled surface.

Okay, cutting to the chase, the folks that came out basically smoked out the facility - everybody had to evacuate the building. Fortunately there were really only two people - me and the facility representative.

That is my only experience with the application of a smoke test. My thought here is that is a bit trickier than it looks

JR

 

[PWI]

Thanks for your input JR. I have a feeling that you are right, so I'm trying to decide if it is something that I want to take on or not. My site would be in a residential area, so if I ended up smoking out the entire neighborhood I think that I would have a bigger mess on my hands than I would want. Not to mention a whole lot of angry residents.