Update Wednesday August 14, 2019, 9:00 am: This week's scheduled smoke testing in South Courtenay has been completed ahead of schedule. 

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The City of Courtenay will be conducting a “smoke” test of the sanitary sewer system in the following areas of South Courtenay from August 12 to 16, 2019:

• The Ridge neighbourhood
• Cliffe Avenue commercial corridor from Mansfield Drive (north end) south to Anfield Road
• Moray Avenue, 30th Street, Kilpatrick Avenue commercial area
• Hornby Place, Galloway Crescent and the south end of Stewart and Piercy Avenues

“Smoke” testing is a commonly-used method to evaluate sewers, identify failed sanitary sewers, and locate connections between sanitary and storm sewers. 

This testing is performed by blowing a harmless vapour into a sewer. The “smoke” is not a real smoke, but rather a mist containing a large percentage of moisture. It is highly visible at low concentrations. The smoke is expected to exit from manholes, the sewer stack at the top of your house, catch basins and downspouts.

The smoke is non-toxic, leaves no residue or stains, and has no impact on plants or animals. However, if smoke enters your home or business, it may signal plumbing defects in your home. Please contact Public Works Services at 250-338-1525 for more information.

Please be aware of getting too close to the smoke as direct contact can cause minor respiratory irritation in some people. If you are within the testing areas and people in your building or residence have asthma, emphysema or some other respiratory condition, and are planning to remain in the building during the testing, please notify the City of Courtenay Public Works Department at 250-338-1525 so we can discuss your case in further detail.

For more information on smoke testing, visit www.courtenay.ca/smoketestFAQs or call City of Courtenay Public Works Services at 250-338-1525 or email publicworks@courtenay.ca