City of Morrison, IL, employees began smoke testing in the downtown area sanitary sewers on Monday, September 23, 2013, to locate breaks and defects in the sewer system. They will complete work on or before Friday, September 27, stated Gary Tresenriter, Director of Public Services, on Monday. The smoke has no odor, is non-toxic and non-staining, does not create a fire hazard, and will dissipate in a few minutes.
At this time, they will test from N. Orange to N. Clinton Streets and Market to Knox Streets. However, “as time permits” the Director wants this to be an “ongoing” assessment, “all over town.” He feels a sense of urgency to complete the scheduled tests this fall. “It is much better in the non-winter [months], as manholes freeze shut.”
Workers first insert plugs into the sewer line, which covers a couple blocks at a time, to trap any smoke within the area they are testing. The lines are accessed through manhole covers in the streets. Monday “was easier[, because we] didn’t need as many plugs. We did five at once.”
Bad news indicated smoke rising from two, corner catch basins at Base and W. Main Streets. “It shouldn’t be there,” observed Tresenriter. There “used to be a combined system in the past,” he explained, whereby rain water would be channeled into storm sewers and diverted into the sanitary sewer system.
Why is that troubling? Finding smoke in the sanitary system indicates an expensive problem the Department of Public Services is resolving. A camera will be inserted into the sewer line to determine where the connection of the two systems exists. These outdated connections will be eliminated.
Why bother? Rainwater that dumps into the sanitary sewer system must be processed–that costs money. “During heavy rain events, we are inundated with rain water that has to be treated.” Tresenriter said. By 2017, he added, we have to eliminate six overflows that currently send the overflow to the creek. If we eliminate rainwater and groundwater from entering the sanitary sewer system, it will save money.
Why is that a concern? The excess water, that the sanitary system is not large enough to handle, goes to French and Rock Creeks. It contains diluted waste water. “The Environmental Protection Agency mandated the elimination of this discharge by 2017, so our waste water treatment plant has to be operational by 2017.”
About 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 25, City workers Jim DuBois and Dave Peugh directed unsuspecting traffic along N. Genesee Street, between Main Street and Route 30, while others began–and monitored–the smoke test.
Shane Osborn, left, inserted into the sanitary sewer line (ie., manhole) a Briggs & Stratton “Air-Loc Line Stringer” motor with fan, assisted by Pete Swearingen. Next, Osborn pumped smoke into the opening, sending it far and away. It ran for half an hour. Sewer lines on E. Route 30 were “good.”
Whispy, gray smoke coming from vent stacks on buildings or from holes in the ground is not cause for alarm. The harmless smoke at left is from the vent over the kitchen of the former Isle of Rhodes building, 100 W. Main Street. Kendra Kophamer used a bucket to view roofs and photograph smoke emissions.
Smoke around the corner originated at sidewalk level from Exner’s Sportsmens Paradise, 101 W. Lincolnway. When it was the Ice Box restaurant years ago, restrooms were in the basement. The exit point for the smoke was believed to be from that subterranean vent.
Smoke filled the basement of Shawver Press, 100 E. Main, drifting out a crack in the foundation, as seen below. Tresenriter stated “smoke is not supposed to be there,” and the manhole in the adjacent sidewalk–on the west side of the building–will be investigated. He explained there could be a roof drain into the basement, as there were no visible downspouts. Kophamer reported the roof of the Whiteside News Sentinel was “okay.”
Tresenriter welcomes questions from citizens. Contact him at City Hall, 815-772-7657.