Full Notification

Public Notice to the Borough of Caldwell Sanitary Sewer Customers
SMOKE TESTING PROGRAM


Mott MacDonald, on behalf of the Borough of Caldwell, has hired Flow Assessment Services, LLC to perform a study of portions of the Borough’s sanitary sewer system. The purpose of the study is to locate rainfall (storm) water sources that may be improperly connected to the sanitary sewer system. Connections such as catch basins, roof drains, area drains, broken sewer pipes and open pipe joints will be located through a method called smoke testing.
Smoke testing is performed on sanitary sewer manholes that are located in the streets near your residence. NON-TOXIC and NON-STAINING white smoke is inserted into the sanitary sewer system by means of a smoke generating device. During the test, smoke will be observed emitting from the manhole covers on the street and vent pipes located on the homes and local business establishments.

PLEASE REMAIN CALM; THIS IS NORMAL.

Smoke could enter your house if you have a dry trap or other unused plumbing fixture within your premises. By pouring water down these drains or other seldom-used fixtures now will help assure that smoke does not enter your house during the test. A plumbing defect within a house may also allow smoke to enter. As a homeowner you may want to address any, plumbing defect since odors sometimes develop in the sewer system and could possibly enter the home through the defect.

In the unlikely event that smoke enters your house, PLEASE REMAIN CALM.

Please open windows and doors in order to ventilate your house, and contact the representatives conducting the smoke test (you will recognize them by the bright red vans and brown uniforms). They will assist you in locating the source that allowed the smoke to enter your house. If you can’t find the truck, please feel free to phone crew chief Brian Mieldazis on his cell phone: 215-207-4542. You may also call Mott MacDonald’s representative Jim McGoldrick at 908 300-4769.
The smoke testing will be performed within 24 to 72 hours of you receiving this notice. Weather conditions (heavy rain) or weekends could possibly shift the testing beyond the 72-hour time frame. It is not necessary for you to be home while the smoke testing is being performed.
The goal of this program is to reduce sewer maintenance costs and minimize flooding. Thank you for your cooperation in this most worthwhile effort

Instructions:

If you can’t find the truck, please feel free to phone crew chief Brian Mieldazis on his cell phone: 215-207-4542. You may also call Mott MacDonald’s representative Jim McGoldrick at 908 300-4769.