Why does smoke come out of New York sewers

The Burlington Public Works Department is performing a series of smoke tests as a part of the Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE) Program. This part of its "advanced investigation" entails pouring a kind of smoke into the stormwater pipes, looking for any indication that the smoke goes into sewer pipes. This means there's either a leak or an improper connection between the pipes. For residents, this means smoke could come out of drains or pipes in their houses.The smoke is more like a fog that is odorless, non-toxic and not flammable. "We've been notifying people just so they're not freaked out," Burlington Stormwater Program Manager Jenna Olson said. "If there's smoke coming out of your sink drains, that can be a little alarming. So we just want folks to be prepared and not be freaked out if they do happen to see smoke coming."The fire department is also on alert for calls, just in case the smoke looks suspicious."It could cause some panic," Burlington Fire Batallion Chief Patrick Murphy said. "We just want people to know that if you do have a question, call 911, first and foremost. But if you think it could be related to the smoke test, then by all means, you may want to check with public works."If you do see this in your house or coming out of a sewage outlet nearby, the Public Works Department is asking you to contact their customer service line at 802-863-4501. You will be asked to provide an address of where the smoke came from and a phone number for follow-up information. But Olson said she's not expecting many pop-ups."It's pretty uncommon, really infrequent," she said. "It's sort of just the nature of having old infrastructure. We have old, rusty pipes and sometimes they break. You know, over the winter, things like that. And they will leak into other areas."The tests are set to start at 8 a.m. Wednesday on Pine Street and continue throughout the city.

BURLINGTON, Vt. —

The Burlington Public Works Department is performing a series of smoke tests as a part of the Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE) Program.

This part of its "advanced investigation" entails pouring a kind of smoke into the stormwater pipes, looking for any indication that the smoke goes into sewer pipes.

This means there's either a leak or an improper connection between the pipes.

For residents, this means smoke could come out of drains or pipes in their houses.

The smoke is more like a fog that is odorless, non-toxic and not flammable.

"We've been notifying people just so they're not freaked out," Burlington Stormwater Program Manager Jenna Olson said. "If there's smoke coming out of your sink drains, that can be a little alarming. So we just want folks to be prepared and not be freaked out if they do happen to see smoke coming."

The fire department is also on alert for calls, just in case the smoke looks suspicious.

"It could cause some panic," Burlington Fire Batallion Chief Patrick Murphy said. "We just want people to know that if you do have a question, call 911, first and foremost. But if you think it could be related to the smoke test, then by all means, you may want to check with public works."

If you do see this in your house or coming out of a sewage outlet nearby, the Public Works Department is asking you to contact their customer service line at 802-863-4501.

You will be asked to provide an address of where the smoke came from and a phone number for follow-up information.

But Olson said she's not expecting many pop-ups.

"It's pretty uncommon, really infrequent," she said. "It's sort of just the nature of having old infrastructure. We have old, rusty pipes and sometimes they break. You know, over the winter, things like that. And they will leak into other areas."

The tests are set to start at 8 a.m. Wednesday on Pine Street and continue throughout the city.