OLDS — From Sept. 13 to Sept. 22 (weekdays only) town staff will be running vapour tests from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm. to identify and address sewer infiltration issues.
In a news release, town officials say the community’s sewer system has a problem with infiltration – unwanted water entering the lines when it shouldn’t.
“When this happens, the system must handle more water than it was designed for, straining the system and increasing costs to ratepayers,” the release says.
To conduct the tests, a vapour which the Town says is safe and non-toxic will be released into the sewer system and its escape points monitored.
“There is no cause for concern about the vapour if it enters your home or business as it is non-toxic and poses no health risk,” the release says.
“The presence of vapour, however, is useful information. It means sewer gases have been able to enter your building. These sewer gases cause a health risk and can become hazardous.
“The vapour provides valuable information about how and where the harmful sewer gases are entering your home so you can take measures to repair the issue.”
Town officials say the vapour could affect buildings if:
• They’re built before 1984,
• Sump pumps are not connected correctly to sanitary lines,
• Plumbing systems require maintenance or are showing visible signs of leaks and issues, and
• Drains and pipes are dry (rarely or infrequently used).
How to prepare
• Run at least two cups of water down every drain in your home, especially rarely used drains in basements and garages.
This only needs to be done once. It can be done any time before the vapour testing starts.
The vapour dissipates quickly and should not impact smoke detectors. To accelerate dissipation, open doors or windows for increased ventilation.
If vapour enters your home or business, call 403-507-4828 or email [email protected] for further information.
Watch for notifications about the testing on the town website (www.olds.ca/vapourtesting), social media, door hanger notifications and notice boards in your neighbourhood.
For detailed information about the vapour testing process and how to prepare, visit www.olds.ca/vapourtesting.
