If you see smoke rising from the ground in DeKalb County, don’t be alarmed.
The county is using smoke to find sewer leaks over the next several months by pumping gas into pipes. Smoke billowing to the surface may indicate there's a breach in a sewer line that the county needs to repair.
The smoke testing began Monday as part of DeKalb's ongoing work to upgrade its aging water and sewer infrastructure. The county is several years into $1.35 billion worth of capital improvement projects, and the sewer testing is part of the county's obligations arising from a settlement with state and federal environmental authorities.
About one-third of DeKalb’s sewer lines will be tested at areas throughout the county. The smoke is non-toxic and harmless to humans and pets. The smoke isn’t associated with fire.
The county government plans to alert residents about the smoke testing by distributing door hangers in affected communities.
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