If you notice smoke rising from your garden, drains or sewer vents, don’t panic. It could be part of Sydney Water’s smoke-testing program, designed to uncover hidden problems in the wastewater network.
The program includes several Lower North Shore suburbs, including Artarmon, Chatswood, Crows Nest, Naremburn, Neutral Bay, North Sydney, Northbridge and St Leonards.
Smoke testing helps identify damaged sewer pipes, defective connections and stormwater entering the sewer system. While smoke from a normal sewer vent can be expected during testing, smoke escaping from unexpected locations may indicate a problem requiring further investigation.
Here’s a helpful diagram explaining the process provided by Sydney Water.
Smoke testing and how it works – Sydney Water
For homeowners, the important consideration is that some defects found within private property boundaries may be the owner’s responsibility to repair.
At Platinum Plumbers & Pipe Relining, we’ve spent over 25 years helping Sydney homeowners investigate and repair underground drainage problems. Using CCTV drain technology, we can assess damaged sewer lines and recommend suitable repairs, including trenchless pipe relining where appropriate.
If you’ve received a notice from Sydney Water, or have concerns about your sewer pipes, our experienced team is here to help.
Check out this video below of our team using smoke detection to locate a leak in our customer’s sewer drainage. Our customer was experiencing ongoing foul smells coming from the bathroom but they could not find an obvious source. Using smoke detection, we were able to easily locate the source and rectify the problem.