For the past several months, crews have been upgrading our aging sanitary sewer in various areas of the city. Many of the pipes in the system were 50-years-old and in poor condition before we began this rehabilitation process to curtail costly leaks.
The work consists of actual pipe replacement, manhole installation and pipe rehabilitation. The rehab work, known as cured in place pipes (CIPP), is accomplished by adding an ultra-durable lining to our existing sewer lines to eliminate leaks and give us many years of additional service without tearing-up the streets. Without these upgrades, rain water would continue to leak into the sewer and overload the treatment center.
The addition of this lining can create a strong odor that is similar to the smell of glue. To cut down on the chances of encountering this smell, please make sure all of the basement drains and traps in your home are full of water during your designated construction period. You may also want to cover drains with damp rags or plugs.
Also, if you are an individual who is smell sensitive and one who is often bothered by perfumes, smoke or industrial smells, please be alert on these days. The contractors are using filters to eliminate the odor, but you still may smell it.
Thanks for your patience during this process. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call the City of Salem Water Department at 375-3029.