Why You Might See Fog Coming Out Of Sewers In Peterborough

If you see fog coming out of city sewers, well it's not filming for a horror movie or anything.

Rather, the City of Peterborough is working with Cole Engineering Group Ltd. to identify sources of rain water entering the sanitary sewers and develop a plan to reduce these flows.

Photo Courtesy City of Peterborough

The sanitary sewer system takes wastewater from houses, businesses, and industries to the treatment plant for treatment before being discharged into the river. Inflow and infiltration occurs when rain and ground water enters the sanitary sewers through cracks or holes in the pipe network or other connections such as catch basins or roof downspouts

This increased volume reduces the capacity of the sanitary sewer pipe network and the treatment plant. This also increases the risk of overloading the pipe network and potential basement flooding.

How The Sewer Testing Works...

-> To identify sources of inflow and infiltration, Cole Engineering is conducting a sewer fog testing program from the beginning of May until the end of August 2016.

-> The fog test consists of blowing a harmless coloured vapour into City sewer manholes and pipes and observing where the fog exits from the system.

-> The fog is expected to exit primarily out of manholes on the street and the sewer plumbing stack at the top of your house. It is also possible for fog to exit stormwater catch basins and downspouts on your house.

-> The fog used in the test has no odour, isn’t harmful to your health, and will disappear after a few minutes.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.