Testing could help save tax dollars
Effort could help keep taxpayers from paying for treatment of excess wastewater
Fog and dye testing to be carried out in a Welland neighbourhood will help the city identify sources of rain and groundwater entering sanitary sewers, and keep taxpayers from paying for treatment of excess wastewater.
The city said the testing is part of an inflow and infiltration reduction study being carried out and starts on June 26, and that it will help to develop a plan to reduce sources of rainwater inflow.
Inflow from rainwater and groundwater, the city said in a release, fills sanitary sewer systems, reduces the capacity of the sanitary sewers which increases the risk of overloading the system, and risks basement flooding and overflow of untreated wastewater to the environment.
“We’re implementing this program because it’s safe and will reduce, the risk of basement flooding, reduce the amount of untreated wastewater reaching the environment and the volume of wastewater treated at the wastewater treatment plant that taxpayers pay for,” said Marvin Ingebrigtsen, infrastructure planning and development supervisor.
“We want the public to know that the fog and dye program is not harmful to their health. The solution dissipates quickly and it will not harm clothing, draperies, or furniture,”
Civica Infrastructure has been contracted to carry out the fog and dye testing in the area between Southworth Street and Coventry Road, and Simpson Street and Morningstar Avenue, beginning Tuesday, June 26.
The program should take two to three weeks to complete and all work will take place between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and will be conducted by Civica staff only.
“Although Civica staff will be conducting the fog and dye operation, they will not require entry to any homes; however, Civica staff do require access to the outside of homes listed in the program,” the city said.
All residential homes and businesses within the fog and dye testing area will be notified with a hand delivered letter from Civica staff, and will also receive a door hanger one to five business days prior to the start date.
Fog and dye testing is nonhazardous to people, pets, and the environment. The fog test consists of inserting a harmless vapour into selected sewer manholes and pipes to essentially observe where the fog exits from the sanitary system. The fog primarily exits from nearby manholes and the sewer plumbing stacks from residential rooftops.
“Civica staff are most concerned with fog exiting from stormwater catch basins and residential downspouts because these drainage features can put an unnecessary demand on the sanitary sewer system. The fog used in the test is odourless, harmless to health, and disappears after a few minutes.”
If a fog test is positive or inconclusive, Civica staff will perform a dye test from the outside of the residence by pouring an environmentally biodegradable water mixture with tracer dye into suspect inlets to visually confirm its connectivity to the sewer.
The city said Civica personnel can then provide advice on how to disconnect downspouts from city sanitary sewers and re-direct rainwater to yards.
“We’ve had excellent cooperation from residents with this program,” said Matthew Malone, project manager at Civic Infrastructure.
“We find the best way to perform the testing is keeping the neighbourhood informed and by being available to respond to inquiries.”
For more information on the program visit www.welland.ca.