The City of Sanford Engineering Division has contracted with Compliance EnviroSystems (CES) to conduct a physical survey of a portion of the sanitary sewer system in downtown Sanford from MLK Memorial Park to Sunset Drive.
From February 23, 2024, to February 26, 2024 (weather permitting), CES will survey the sewer mains and manholes highlighted in the map below. An important task of the survey will be smoke testing of the sewer lines to locate breaks and defects in the sewer system. The day before the smoke testing will begin, affected households will be notified by door hangers.
What to expect: Residents may see smoke coming from the vent stacks on houses or holes in the ground. This smoke is non-toxic, harmless, has no odor, and creates no fire hazard.
How to prepare: Residents with seldom used drains are asked to pour water in the drains to fill the traps, which will prevent smoke from entering their homes. Drain traps should always be filled with water to prevent sewer gases or odors from entering. The smoke should not enter your home unless you have defective plumbing or dried up drain traps.
Some sewer lines and manholes may be located on the backyard easement property line. Whenever these lines require investigation, members of the inspection crews will need access to the easements for the sewer lines and manholes.
Important: CES personnel are uniformed and carry identification. Homeowners do not need to be home and at no time will field crews need to enter a residence.
The information gained from this study will help the City identify areas of improvement in our sewer collection system.
For questions or to report that smoke entered a home, contact City of Sanford Engineering Services Specialist Michele Meyers at 919-777-1158 or or on-site CES representative Sam Phillips at 337-458-2808.
