DEPARTMENT OF
     Public Works and 
  Utilities

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24 Hour Notice

Please Read Carefully

The Town of Cary’s Public Works & Utilities Department will be conducting leak tests of the sanitary sewer system in your area within the next 24 hours, weather permitting.

This smoke will help locate places where storm and other surface waters are entering the Town’s sewers as well as reveal sources of sewer odors. A detailed letter explaining this testing was mailed to the owner of this property in early August.

The testing consists of forcing a special, non-toxic smoke into the sewer lines in your neighborhood.

  • The smoke is manufactured for this purpose and leaves no residuals or stains and has no effect on plants and animals.

  • Direct contact with the smoke may cause minor respiratory irritation in some people.

  • If people in your building have asthma, emphysema, or some other respiratory conditions and are planning to stay in the building during the testing, notify the Town immediately so that we can discuss your case in further detail.

  • To avoid smoke unnecessarily entering your structure, we advise residents to run water into all of the drains for one minute, especially those used infrequently.

    Smoke should not enter your structure unless

  • Vents connected to your building’s sewer pipe are inadequate, defective, or improperly installed; or

  • Traps under sinks, tubs, basins, showers and other drains are dry, defective, improperly installed or missing; or

  • Pipe, connections and seals of the wastewater drain system in and under your building are damaged, defective, has plugs missing, or are improperly installed.

      • If you do see or smell smoke in your structure immediately report it to the Public Works & Utility Department testing crew and to your plumber.

      • This may mean that harmful gases from the sewer may enter your structure.

      • Location, identification, and correction of the source of smoke entering your house is strongly recommended.

      • Do not be concerned if you see testing smoke coming from your rooftop sewer vents; this is normal.

      • While the Town’s Public Works & Utilities Department will render all possible assistance, the correction of any defects in the pipes and sewer on private property is the responsibility of the property owner.

      If you have any questions, or desire more information, please call 469-4090 or visit the Town’s website at www.townofcary.org