photo by: City of Lawrence

The City of Lawrence will be conducting smoke testing in sections of the sanitary sewer system in the Quail Run neighborhood.

The City of Lawrence will be conducting smoke testing in sections of the sanitary sewer system to identify cracks, leaks and faulty connections in sewer lines within the Quail Run neighborhood in west Lawrence.

The City of Lawrence’s Municipal Services & Operations Department, in partnership with contractor TREKK Design Group, will be conducting the testing starting Tuesday. The city said in a news release that residents of Quail Run may see harmless smoke rising from manholes, yards or storm drains.

Smoke testing involves pushing nontoxic, odorless smoke through sewer lines so that crews can observe where smoke is escaping — and hence where problems exist in the lines. Smoke should not enter homes — if it does, it may signal a dry or faulty drain trap that needs attention, the release said.

According to the release, TREKK has notified all affected homes and properties at least 48 hours in advance. The smoke will not harm pets, plants or furnishings. The city is also working closely with Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical during the testing to ensure awareness and coordination. If weather or conditions change, testing may be rescheduled.

To learn more about smoke testing and the city’s preventive maintenance program, visit lawrenceks.org/mso/ecoflow.