Smoke Test

About the Smoke Test
The City of Blue Springs is working with TREKK Design Group, LLC to conduct smoke testing of our sanitary sewer systems. The smoke is non-toxic, non-staining, has no odor, white to gray in color, creates no fire hazard, and is not harmful to pets. The smoke should not enter your building unless you have defective plumbing or dried up drain traps.
Locations for Defects
The testing blows a non-toxic vapor through the sewer pipes to locate breaks in the sewer revealed by escaping smoke. Locations for defects may include:
  • Defective service pipes
  • Driveway drains
  • Foundation-perimeter drains
  • Roof downspouts
  • Stairwell drains
  • Uncapped clean outs
  • Window well drains
  • Yard or area drains
Smoke Test
Why the City Conducts Smoke Testing
The sanitary sewer system was not designed to handle stormwater. The stormwater in the sanitary sewer system can cause sewage backups and results in extra water being treated at the wastewater treatment plant, which drives up sewer charges. These tests help us identify breaks and defects in the sanitary sewer pipes.