HERRIN — The City of Herrin will be smoke testing sewer lines starting today.

A smoke test will help the city’s inspection crews find breaks and defects in the sewer collection system. The smoke you see coming from the vent stacks on houses or holes in the ground is non-toxic, non-staining, has no odor, white to gray in color and creates no fire hazard.

The smoke should not enter your home unless you have defective plumbing or dried up drain traps.

Officials ask that you pour a gallon of water into each floor drain prior to testing. If smoke enters your home, there is good reason to assume that sewer gasses may also be entering your home or businesses.  You should evacuate immediately and notify work crews.

If you are not at home and discover smoke when you return, call 942-3177.

To find out where work crews will be doing smoke tests, go to this story on our website’s news page.