Close Your Toilets, Shrewsbury: Sewer Inspections May Gas Your Plumbing

SHREWSBURY, MA — Starting Wednesday, the plumbing in your house may be on the receiving end of the sewer system for a change.

The town will begin a period of sewer inspections and cleaning on Wednesday, which will involve special trucks using jets of water and air in the system. It's possible some of that air could enter your plumbing and escape through fixtures.

"The vacuum pressure created by the cleaning may cause air to escape through the traps and drains of your plumbing fixtures, such as toilets and sinks. Closing toilet bowl lids is recommended while this work takes place," the town said in an advisory on Tuesday.

The cleaning work will take place in two areas of Shrewsbury, according to the town:

• Subarea 1A — Casavan Avenue and Stone Avenue. Click here for a map.
• Subarea 1B — Atwood Lane, Douglas Circle, Edgewood Road, Glen Terrace, Hapgood Way, Heritage Road, Janet Circle, Jill Circle, Lake Street, Mayflower Circle, Meadow Lane, Monroe Street, Spruce Street, Sunflower Circle, Tavern Street, and Westport Drive. Click here for a map.

The sewer cleaning and inspections will last from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through April.