Smoke Testing Sanitary Sewer System

In July 2017, the City of Valdosta completed the smoke testing project for the sanitary sewer system, which included approximately 1,712,150 linear feet (over 300 miles). The City hired Constantine Engineering to smoke test the entire sanitary sewer system and estimated that the project would take 4 years. Work began in January 2014 and was completed ahead of schedule. The purpose of this project was to identify and eliminate sources of stormwater inflow and infiltration (I&I) into the sewer system that cannot be identified by closed-circuit televising of sewer lines.

As part of the project, the city sewer system was divided into five zones. Door hangers were distributed to citizens in the areas to be tested 24 to 48 hours before testing began. The white or greyish-colored smoke used during the test is non-toxic, non-staining, odorless, creates no fire hazard and does not pose any harm to the environment. Typically smoke is seen coming out of:

Missing sewer clean-out caps
Breaks in sewer lines or manholes
Roof vent stacks associated with the building's plumbing system and/or roof drains that should NOT be connected to the sewer system
Stormwater ponds or catch basins that are improperly connected to the sewer system

Following the smoke testing of each zone, Constantine Engineering provided an inventory of the defects and repairs needed within the sewer system, which included both public and private defects with cleanouts, manholes, main lines, service lines, and stormwater cross connections. A total of 1,442 defects were found and as of July 2017, the following repairs have been made:

Cleanout repairs: 288
Manhole repairs: 63
Main line repairs: 7 (14,376 ft of sewer mains lined)
Storm Cross Connection: 12
Service Line Defects: 253

Over the next year, City staff will work to address the remaining 819 defects.

Smoke Test Locations

2017 - Week of Start Date	Map
June 19, 2017	Multiple locations
April 10, 2017	Park & Ponderosa and Hill & Cypress Areas
April 3, 2017	Gordon, Forrest, Troup, Vallotton Area
January 23, 2017	Forrest and Park Area

2016 - Week of Start Date	Map
July 11, 2016	Knights Academy Area
August 1, 2016	Mount Zion Church Area
August 15, 2016	Forrest and Inner Perimeter Rd Area
August 22, 2016	Pineview Dr and Forrest St Area
September 26, 2016	Ashley, Bemiss and Perimeter Area
October 24, 2016	Oak, Cowart, Ashley and Brookwood Area
November 28, 2016	Brookwood, Ashley, and Forrest Area

2014/2015 - Week of Start Date	Map
January 27, 2014	Portion of Downtown
January 27, 2014	North Valdsota Area
February 10, 2014	Gornto Rd and Meadowbrook Dr Area
February 17, 2014	Gornto Rd and Oak St Area
March 10, 2014	Jerry Jones Dr and Country Club Dr Area
March 24, 2014	North Valdosta Rd Area
March 31, 2014	Country Club Rd Area
July 7, 2014	Valdosta Mall Area
July 14, 2014	Old Wood Valley and I-75 Area
July 21, 2014	New Wood Valley Area
July 28, 2014	Jerry Jones Dr and Baytree Rd Area
August 4, 2014	Gordon St and Baytree Rd Area
August 11, 2014	N St Augustine Rd and River St Area
August 25, 2014	S St Augustine Rd and Savannah Ave Area
August 10, 2015	Gil Harbin and Madison Hwy Area
August 17, 2015	New Statenville and Inner Perimeter Area
August 24, 2015	Old Lake Park and Old Statenville Area
September 7, 2015	Old Lake Park and Griffin Area
September 21, 2015	Hill Ave Area