NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 18, 1999

SECOND PHASE OF SEWER SYSTEM LEAK TESTING YIELDS GOOD RESULTS

CARY, NC – With this year’s wastewater collection system leak testing complete, Town of Cary officials will now deal with more than 200 public and private locations where surface water may be entering the Town’s wastewater collection system and sewer odors may be inappropriately leaving the system. The testing, which ran from late September to early November, included about 1,300 manholes and 42 miles of sewer lines in the areas bordered by Maynard loop, south of Walnut Street, and west of Harrison Avenue and west of Academy Street.

"The leak-testing project helps provide for a safe, economical, efficient, and environmentally sound sewer system throughout Cary," said Sam Tingler, Cary’s Superintendent of Utility Systems Maintenance.

When storm water or other surface water leaks into the sewer system, it travels down to the treatment facilities and is processed along with the raw sewage. While treating the storm water is not harmful, the excess water takes up precious treatment capacity of the plant, capacity that is needed for sewage treatment. Limiting infiltration helps extend the life of a treatment facility.

Cary’s Public Works & Utilities Department conducted the leak tests by introducing detection smoke into neighborhood sewer lines. Cary used a special, non-toxic smoke that is manufactured for leak tests and, therefore, leaves no residuals or stains and has no effect on plants and animals.

Town staff is currently assessing all of the identified areas and will proceed with an escalating approach to getting the necessary repairs completed. Notification of required private property repairs are currently being distributed to businesses and residences identified in the testing.

"Cary will be moving quickly to address problems as a result of this work," said Tingler. "We have had great cooperation from the public with regards to private property repairs."

Common problems detected by smoke testing include:

1. Inadequate, defective, or improperly installed vents connected to a structure’s sewer pipes;
2. Improperly installed, defective, or missing traps under sinks, tubs, basins, showers and other drains;
3. Damaged, defective, or improperly installed pipe, connections, and seals of the wastewater system;

Last year in phase one of the eight-phase program, the Town covered 984 manholes and 38 miles of sewer lines in the area between Buck Jones Road, Chatham Street, Academy Street, and Walnut Street.

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