Our regular mist testing program is designed to protect the future reliability of our sewerage systems and help prevent sewage spills.
In very wet weather, the flows coming through our sewage treatment plants are much higher than the dry weather flows. This indicates that stormwater is entering the sewerage network – either due to leaks or illegal connections.
Stormwater or rainwater can overload our systems and cause spills. It’s therefore important we find out where this water is coming from.
How does testing work?
We regularly conduct CCTV inspections of our sewerage network to assess the condition of the pipes. However, this process does not show where stormwater may be getting in, so we use mist testing.
In each section of the network, we’ll use a sewer access point to blow a harmless mist into the pipes and then monitor where it escapes the system.
Under pressure, the mist passes through the pipes and connections to disperse at roof vents on houses and buildings. This is normal and indicates that the mist has filled all the sewers.
The mist shouldn’t appear inside homes unless the plumbing is faulty. If it comes up from the ground, it means there’s a problem, such as a broken pipe or defective connection.
What are we looking for?
The mist testing program is a quick and cost-effective way of allowing us to discover:
- Points where groundwater or surface water may be entering the sewer, such as where sewer access point covers are cracked or poorly sealed.
- Cross-connections between sewers and stormwater drains.
- Defective sewer connections.
Is the mist harmful?
The mist looks similar to smoke but is actually a clean, odourless substance that is harmless to humans, pets, food, and material goods.
We advise emergency services and local councils when we’ve scheduled this testing to avoid unnecessary call-outs. We don’t program the work on days of Total Fire Ban.
Will you need access to my property?
Sometimes we may need to access a sewer line in a property’s backyard to complete the testing.
If we need to enter your property, we’ll send you a letter to advise of this.
Will my sewerage services be affected?
No. The testing won’t interrupt any sewerage services.
What will happen when the testing is completed?
We’ll fix any problems with in our sewerage network such as broken covers and pipes.
