Depending on where you are in town, you may see what looks like smoke coming from Darien sewers on certain days in September, the town Department of Public Works announced Wednesday. More startling may be DPW employees looking for it on your property.
The “smoke” is from tests for sewer leaks.
The tests will take place in three areas of town, each at a different time (see the map for more details or call the Darien DPW). Here’s Darienite.com’s complicated explanation, but you’re better off if you can find your street on the DPW map:
—Sept. 1 to 3 — around Corbin Drive, downtown, including Old Kings Highway South (from Tokeneke Road to Andrews Drive), on Andrews Drive from Old Kings Highway South to a point about half-way between the two Andrews Drive/Bushy Hill Road intersections.
—Sept. 2 to 14 — an area around the southern end of Mansfield Drive and Brookside Drive, including numerous streets off of those roads. Included are roads intersecting Mansfield Drive from its intersection with Peach Hill Road and Buttonwood Lane south to its intersection with Knollwood Lane and Overbrook Lane, as are roads intersecting Brookside Drive from its intersection with Buttonwood Drive and Sylvan Road, south to the Post Road. In addition, the area includes a stretch of Mansfield Drive from the intersection with Peach Hill Road and Buttonwood Lane north to the intersection of Mansfield and Pembroke Road (but not including roads intersecting with Mansfield along that stretch).
—Sept. 8 to 17 — Leroy Avenue from its intersection with West Avenue to a point just before its intersection with Knoll Road, along with streets intersecting with Leroy and some streets off of West Avenue between Leroy and the Post Road. One exception to that: Mystic Lane isn’t included. Rocaton Avenue is included, but only for the stretch between Leroy and the intersection where Rocaton curls around and intersects with itself.
In the DPW map just below, If you don’t recognize your street, and you think you live somewhere in the green shaded areas, you might want to compare it with this Google map.
Here’s the DPW’s map showing where the smoke tests will take place.
Here’s the announcement from the DPW:
The Town of Darien is working to eliminate ground and stormwater from entering our sewer system. To locate illicit connections or defects, we will add “smoke” into our sanitary sewer system.
The presence of “smoke” outside of the sewer, will let us know where we may have a leak or illicit connection in our system that may need to be eliminated. The “smoke” is really a vapor mist and is nonstaining and non-toxic.
The map inset, shows areas that will be smoke tested with approximate dates. All work will be conducted on the sewer system in the roadway or in sewer easements on private property.
Entry into homes is not necessary. Personnel may need to enter upon your property to look for “smoke” in your yard or around your home. They will attempt to make contact before entering your property. All personnel will carry identification.
More information can be found on the Town of Darien website at www.darienct.gov.