Town completes summer sewer smoke testing and drainage surveys

Fort Erie’s sanitary sewer smoke testing is complete, but residents will need to wait for the final report that will guide repairs and prevention efforts.

The Town finished testing neighbourhood sewers this summer to track stormwater entering the sanitary system, according to Dylan Gallant, field inspection lead with 3BP Inc. The results are being compiled into a report for council that could influence plans to prevent basement flooding and sewage overflows.

Smoke testing involves blowing non-toxic smoke into sewer lines so crews can see where it escapes above ground, helping them find cracks, leaks or cross-connections.

The work was part of the broader 2025 Trenchless Rehabilitation Program, which has already completed drainage survey inspections and also includes maintenance hole checks and trenchless repairs.

Another step is underway through the Sanitary Sewer Lateral CCTV Investigation Program. Flusher and camera trucks are inspecting Town-owned laterals in north end neighbourhoods to look for damage or sources of inflow and infiltration.

Each inspection takes roughly an hour.

These underground pipes connect homes and businesses to the main sewer. Residents own the portion on their property, while the Town maintains the part under the roads.

The Town says traffic impacts from the camera work will be minimal, though Gallant told Fort Erie Radio in an interview that driveway access may be briefly affected. No service interruptions are expected.

No release date has been announced for the smoke testing report, but both programs are expected to shape the next phase of sewer upgrades in Fort Erie.

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