The City of Sequim’s Public Works department will begin sanitary smoke testing on Oct. 5 in the area between West Hendrickson Road and McCurdy Road and South Priest Road and Sequim Avenue, city officials announced last week.

City staffers are testing the system for defects, breaks, leaks and faulty connections.

Neighborhoods and individual properties will be notified in advance when smoke testing will take place in their specific area, city officials said. Residents should look for a bright pink door hanger and green and blue A-frame board signs in their neighborhood with the specific dates for testing in their vicinity.

The testing process involves opening manholes and filling the sewer lines with non-toxic smoke. During tests, residents may see smoke coming from vent stacks on buildings or from holes in the ground such as manhole covers, storm drains and building foundations.

“If residents see smoke, there is no need for alarm,” city officials said in a press release last week. “The smoke has no odor, is non-toxic, non-staining, does not create a fire hazard, and will dissipate in a few minutes. There is no need for the testing crew to enter any homes or building.

The Public Works Department recommends that residents flush all toilets and run water down all sinks, tubs and laundry drains before the first day of the testing period to make sure that all drain traps contain enough water to prevent smoke from entering the building through the drains.

If residents see smoke in their building, they should open the doors and windows to ventilate the premises and to clear smoke. Simulated smoke will not stain walls or furniture and it will not leave a residue.

Simulated smoke is not harmful to one’s health, city officials said, but may cause some coughing.

The chemical make-up of the smoke compound can be found on the City of Sequim website (www.sequimwa.gov) or by contacting the Public Works Department at 360-683-4908.

Those who have an individual in one’s building, business or residence who has respiratory problems and/or mobility limitations are asked to notify Public Works Utilities Manager Pete Tjemsland or Public Works..

For questions about the testing, contact Tjemsland at 360-683-4908 or sewersmoketest@sequimwa.gov.