Long Beach To Conduct Sewer Smoke Test In Naples Through End Of July

LONG BEACH, CA — Long Beach will be sending smoke through the city's Naples neighborhood sewer system until the end of July to check for infrastructure issues.

The smoke test is used to identify defects, such as cracks, open joints or broken cleanout caps, which may allow ground or storm water to enter the sewer system — possibly creating an overflow, according to city officials.

If any smoke emerges through the ground or into a building, it may indicate that there are infrastructure issues that need fixing, according to Long Beach Utilities.

The smoke used for the test is similar to the one used at concerts. It is odorless, non-toxic, and harmless, the city department said.

Naples is considered "high-priority" for the sewer smoke testing because the area is prone to excessive weather inflow, according to Joy Contreras, public information officer with Long Beach Utilities. This, according to Contreras, "strains our pump station capacity and infrastructure."

Testing began Tuesday, and Long Beach Utilities' contractor, Downstream Services, will be going block to block over the next week to conduct the smoke test, Contreras said.

Residents in the area have either been notified of the test by mail, door hangers, postcards, newsletters, social media, CMS boards and community meetings, Contreras said.

They've been asked to prepare for the smoke test by filling their drains with three cups of water 24 hours before or on the day of the test, Contreras said.

Residents who detect smoke in their area or home should notify the field technician conducting the tests. The field technicians will be responsible for recording their findings and tracking any locations where smoke may be escaping through.