Sewer Smoke Testing in Bay Point Area on Oct. 25

The City of Panama City Beach’s Utilities Department will soon be conducting leak tests of the sanitary sewer system in the Bay Point area as seen on the map below. This is done by forcing smoke into the sewer lines, so do not be alarmed when you see it. This smoke helps locate places where storm and other surface waters are entering the City’s sewers as well as reveal sources of sewer odors. This leak testing is part of our continuing effort to provide a safe, economical, efficient, and environmentally sound sewer system throughout Panama City Beach.

Testing is initially scheduled for the area indicated inside the red scalloped outline on the map below. Testing is Wednesday, Oct. 25. The testing conditions may be expanded based on the area and findings in the field.

The smoke will vent from holes in manhole covers, plumbing vent pipes located on or near roof tops, holes in the ground, or downspouts. If you detect smoke in your premises, DO NOT BE ALARMED, as the smoke is ODORLESS, NON-TOXIC, NON-STAINING, CREATES NO FIRE HAZARD and will dissipate quickly. It is not harmful to people, pets or plants and leaves no residue. We advise you to open a door or window for ventilation and report the presence of smoke in your premises to the personnel conducting the test at the numbers listed below. If possible, they will help you locate the source that allowed the smoke to enter the building, however, the correction of any defects in the pipes and sewer on private property is the responsibility of the property owner. Local Fire Personnel will be working with field staff and will be able to differentiate between smoke from the testing and smoke which could result from a fire unrelated to the testing.

In the unlikely event that you should have direct contact with the smoke, you may experience some minor irritation of the respiratory passages. These problems last only a few minutes where there is adequate ventilation. However, if people in your building have asthma, emphysema, or some other respiratory condition, please notify the City immediately at the number below so that we can discuss your case in further detail. You do not need to be present during the testing and workers will not be inside your home.

Leak testing smoke may enter your house if:

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

We advise residents within the area designated on the map to run water into all of their drains for one minute before testing begins, especially those drains that are used infrequently. This should reduce the likelihood of smoke entering the house inadvertently.

If you have any questions or need more information, please call (850) 233-5100, ext. 2415, during regular office hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) or (850) 233-5050 after hours and on weekends.