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<br /> <br />EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER <br /> <br />June 29, 2006 <br /> <br /> City of Eugene <br />777 Pearl Street, Room 105 <br /> <br /> Eugene, Oregon 97401-2793 <br /> (541) 682-5010 <br /> (541) 682-5414 (FAX) <br /> www.eugene-or.gov <br /> <br /> <br />IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION <br />SMOKE TESTING OF SEWER LINES BEGINS JULY 5 <br />JULY-IN-MOTION CELBRATES BICYCLING, WALKING IN EUGENE <br />ART-O-MAT® TAKES SUMMER VACATION AT THE HULT CENTER <br />YOUTH RECREATION SERVICES AND POLICE—A SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP <br /> <br />AROUND THE CITY <br />Smoke Testing Of Sewer Lines Begins July 5 <br />Approximately 40 miles of sanitary sewer lines in Eugene are scheduled to be smoke tested beginning <br />Wednesday, July 5. The testing locates defects and improper connections that allow stormwater runoff <br />and groundwater to enter the public wastewater collection system. A secondary goal of this pilot project <br />will be to assess the effectiveness of the methods and materials of recent collection system <br />improvements. The smoke testing results will also provide some insights into the conditions of private <br />building service lines, which are the lines that connect homes and businesses to the public system. <br /> <br />This year's testing includes portions of the wastewater collection system in the Friendly, Amazon, <br />th <br />Southeast, Jefferson Westside, and Fairmount neighborhoods. Testing will begin in the area of 26 <br />Avenue and Tyler Street and is expected to take several months to complete. During the tests, which <br />are endorsed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, nontoxic, white smoke is released into <br />sanitary sewer lines to identify problems. Residents are notified before testing begins in their <br />neighborhood. The smoke will not harm plants or animals and will quickly dissipate, leaving no residue <br /> <br />or stains. <br /> <br />After smoke is blown into a sewer line, crew members watch for tell-tale signs of deteriorated lines or <br />improper connections. White smoke rising from the ground generally indicates a crack or other defect in <br />a sewer line. Smoke coming from a roof gutter, downspout or area drain indicates that a storm drain is <br />improperly connected to the wastewater collection system. <br /> <br />Deteriorated sewer lines and improper stormwater connections cause a problem called inflow and <br />infiltration. The region's wastewater collection and treatment system is designed to carry only so much <br />water and sewage. Inflow and infiltration of stormwater runoff and groundwater can overload the system, <br />increasing the difficulty and cost of transporting and treating wastewater. If smoke testing reveals a <br />defect in the public portion of the wastewater collection system, the defect is corrected as soon as <br />possible. If extensive defects are found, capital rehabilitation projects are planned, funded and <br />completed to correct the problem. If smoke testing identifies a stormwater connection prohibited in the <br />City code, such as a roof drain connected to the sanitary sewer, the property owner is notified and is <br />required to correct the problem. <br /> <br />If the testing indicates a defect in the private portion of the sewer (usually in the line that connects the <br />building to the public sewer), the owner is notified of potential problems with the sewer, and repair or <br />replacement of the defective line is recommended. <br /> <br />For more information about the City's smoke testing program can Carla Spangler, I/I investigation project <br />manager, at 682-4800, or carla.y.spangler@ci.eugene.or.us <br /> <br />EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 1 <br />June 29, 2006 <br />