NOTICE

SMOKE TESTING SEWER LINES

The City of Lancaster is conducting a smoke test of its
sanitary sewer system

UPDATE!!

The city of Lancaster Utilities Department along with Minnesota Rural Water Association and Bollig Engineering will be conducting smoke testing of the sanitary sewer system in upcoming weeks. This testing will begin on November 18^th 2026.  This study will involve the opening and entering of manholes in the streets and public utility easements. An important task of the testing will be to locate breaks and defects in the sewer system. The smoke will also reveal sources of where storm and other surface water enter the sewer system.
A special non-toxic smoke will be used in these tests. The smoke is manufactured for this purpose, leaves no residuals or stains, and has no effect on plant or animal life. The smoke has a distinctive, but not unpleasant, odor. Visibility and odor last only a few minutes, where there is adequate ventilation.
Because the plumbing appliances in your house or building are connected to the sanitary sewer system, some smoke may enter your home or place of business if the:

• Vents connected to your building's sewer pipes are inadequate, defective, or improperly installed.
• Traps under sinks, tubs, basins, showers and other drains are dry, defective, improperly installed, or missing.
• Pipes, connections and seals of the wastewater drain system in and under your buildings are damaged, defective, have plugs missing, or are improperly installed.

All residents are advised that if traces of this smoke or its odor enter your house or building, it is an indication that gases and odors from the sewer also may enter. These can be both unpleasant and dangerous, as well as a health risk to the occupants. Should smoke enter your home or business, you may contact a member of the smoke testing crew working in your area.
The crew member will be able to help and check with you as to where the smoke has entered your building. Location, identification, and correction of the source of smoke that enters your building is urgently advised. Your cooperation will be appreciated.
The information gained from this testing will be used to improve your sewer services and may reduce the eventual cost to utility customers.

Should you have any questions on this matter, please contact George Zondagh at 762-6471 or Janet Johnson at 762-6472 .

Work crews will be in your area smoke testing sewer lines within the coming weeks. Please watch for a notice at your home for the specific date(s).

A “SMOKE TEST” survey will assist our inspection crews in locating breaks and defects in the sewer system. The smoke you see coming from the vent stacks on houses or holes in the ground is: NON-TOXIC, NON-STAINING, HAS NO ODOR, WHITE TO GRAY IN COLOR AND CREATES NO FIRE HAZARD. The smoke should not enter your home unless you have defective plumbing or dried up drain traps.

It is advisable for the homeowner to pour a gallon of water into each floor drain prior to our testing. If smoke enters your home, there is good reason to assume that dangerous sewer gases may also be entering your home or business. You should evacuate immediately and notify our work crews. If you are not home during testing and discover smoke when you return, please call us at 218-762-6472.

IMPORTANT! If there is any individual in your home or business who has respiratory problems and is immobile, please notify us at 218-762-6472.