What is the Town doing to reduce I & I?

The Town regularly performs the following inspection and reduction measures:

  • Camera inspection of sewer lines and laterals - Running a camera through the lines, especially during wet weather, can help find areas with damaged pipes which let groundwater flow into the system.  Cameras can also spot laterals that have excessive flows in them, indicating a damaged pipe or an improper connection.
  • Manhole rehabilitation - Older manholes can become cracked an leaky, especially at joints or around pipe connections.  Depending on the severity of the damage, a manhole may be able to be coated from the inside to restore it to a waterproof condition.
  • Smoke testing - Smoke testing involves filling a section of the sewer piping with smoke and watching for areas where the smoke appears above ground.  This colorless, non-staining smoke will make its way through larger cracks in the pipes and up through the ground to help pinpoint areas that need to be replaced.  Also, smoke coming up through a gutter downspout would indicate an improper connection to the sanitary sewer.
  • Manhole cover replacement - Older manhole lids have large holes that go all the way through the lid to allow picks to pry the lid up.  If these lids are in a low spot in the street, the water collecting on top of them will drain through the lid and into the sewer system.  The Town is in the process of replacing these lids with watertight lids.  Watertight lids have pick holes that don't go all the way through the lid and also have a flexible gasket around the edge.

Show All Answers

1. What is the difference between inflow and infiltration?
2. Why is it bad for rainwater to get in the sanitary sewers?
3. Can my sump pump be connected to the sanitary sewer?
4. Is it okay for my roof downspouts to connect to the sanitary sewer?
5. What can I do as a homeowner to help reduce I & I?
6. What is the Town doing to reduce I & I?