You might see 'smoke' billowing from Evansville's sewer system. Here's why.

EVANSVILLE – There’s a chance you could see something strange coming from Evansville street gutters for the next few weeks.

The Evansville Water & Sewer Utility will conduct “smoke testing” in portions of the Southeast Side between now and September. The procedure, which involves using large fans to pump fake smoke into the sewer system, will help pinpoint areas where stormwater is seeping into areas where it shouldn’t.

According to a Thursday news release from EWSU, the testing’s north-south boundaries will stretch from the Lloyd Expressway to Newburgh Road, and east-to-west from Harrison High School to the Warrick County line.

“Areas on Evansville’s East Side were identified as a project for the study because of a high amount of rainwater entering the sewer system in those areas,” the release states.

The testing is part of the EWSU’s lingering overhaul of the city’s aging sewer system.

With the help of Evansville firm Wessler Engineering, the utility will send “highly visible smoke” into the gutters and sewers to see if any of it seeps from “broken and cracked sewer lines, eroded utility holes and other sanitary sewer structures” that may have allowed stormwater in, the release states.

There’s a chance homeowners could see it billow on their property as well – even from a toilet. Little-used toilets, sinks or tubs with dry water traps could start emitting clouds. EWSU recommends homeowners or property managers run their water before the testing begins.

Then there are your gutters or sump pumps. If smoke starts escaping from them, it could mean they’re incorrectly routed directly into the sewer system.

“The City of Evansville Municipal Code … prohibits any stormwater, groundwater, roof runoff or subsurface drainage from discharging into the sanitary sewer system,” the release says. “Gutters, downspouts and sump pumps tied to the sewer system must be removed by the property owner.”

Around 450 homes within part of the testing boundary will get a letter from Wessler asking them to complete a survey and schedule a sump pump inspection.