LTC 449-2020 Sewer System Evaluation Survey (SSES) - Cycle III -- City of Miami Beach SmokeM IAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC# LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO: Mayor Dan Gelber and Members of the City Commission
FROM, Raul J. Aguila, Interim City Manag~ ~ Q "f!í: ~__..-
DATE: December 15, 2020
SUBJECT: Sewer System Evaluation Survey (SSES) - Cycle III -- City of Miami Beach Smoke
Testing
This L TC is to inform the general public that the City of Miami Beach will commence the
field work associated with the first phase of the Sanitary Sewer Evaluation Survey
(SSES) on Tuesday December 15, 2020. This work consists of performing smoke tests
of the City's entire gravity sewer system and performing Manhole Inspections in order to
identify locations in the system were Infiltration and Inflow (1/1) exist, where defects may
present and/or to identify illegal connections. Upon completion of the smoke testing the
City will continue with Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) inspections of those most critical
areas identified through the smoke test to define extent of the pipe defects and perform
necessary repairs. Subsequently, the City will perform flow testing of Sewer basins, as
required, to estimate volume of infiltration and inflow.
While smoke testing activities take place smoke may be seen throughout the
street, out of catch basins, out of sewer cleanouts and in rare cases, the smoke
may make its way into properties. In the rare event that smoke makes its way into the
property, we recommend you ventilate and when you have the opportunity, have a
plumber check the sewer plumbing system for possible defects. The smoke is not
harmful to humans or pets. For additional information on the smoke test please see
attached informational sheet about Smoke Testing.
This evaluation takes place every 10-years and is required by Miami Dade County
Environmental Regulations. Smoke testing allows the City to reduce infiltration and
inflow, maintain the system and make proactive repairs to the Gravity Sewer System to
reduce and in some cases prevent Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs). The City of Miami
Beach is now entering Cycle Ill of this evaluation for which reports are due to the
County's Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources on or before November
12, 2022.
Should you have any questions, please contact Roy Coley, Public Works Director, at
roycoley@miamibeachfl.gov or Rodolfo de La Torre, Infrastructure Director, at
rodolfodelatorre@miamibeachfl_goy.
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449-2020
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov
Smoke Testing – Informational Sheet
Smoke testing is performed in order to find breaks and defects in the sewer systems, it
sometimes helps identify where storm and surface waters enters the sanitary sewer
system.
P-Trap - A properly installed P-TRAP shall prevent the smoke from entering the
property.
I general P-Traps:
- Prevent odors/sewer gases from making its way from the sewer back into the
properties.
- Are located on all drainage points to the sewer, including sinks, toilets, bathtubs,
showers, and any other drainage location at the property that leads to the sewer
system.
- In some cases, when the faucet or toilet is not commonly used the water can
evaporate. Therefore, allowing odors to make their ways back into the property.
Same way as odors make their way into the property the smoke from the tests
performed could make its way into the property. This could mean that there is
either a missing P-Trap, a P-Trap in which water has evaporated or there is a
damaged or broken sewer pipe.
What to expect to see during a smoke test:
Crews will insert the smoke inside the sanitary sewer system in a form similar to that
one shown in the image below:
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov
During the test smoke might be seen throughout the street, out of catch basins, out of
sewer cleanouts (each property connected to the sewer system has one of these) and
in cases where there are no P-Traps or these are not performing correctly, or there is a
cracked pipe, the smoke might make its way into the property as illustrated below:
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov
Things to know:
The smoke is not harmful. It might make you cough but it will not damage your health
nor your clothes or furniture. If you do see smoke coming into your property, we
encourage you to ventilate and when you have the chance have a plumber check the P-
Traps are in place and operating properly. It would also be beneficial if you inform the
crews or the City of the event.
To avoid getting smoke into the property we encourage you to check that all p-traps
under basins, washing facilities and drains have water in them. If you are not sure if it
does you can pour a gallon of water in it.
The Smoke will not affect the functionality of the existing sewer.
The smoke used by the City’s contractor is LIQUISMOKE manufactured by HURCO
Technologies INC.
“Smoke Testing is a regulatory compliance requirement mandated by Miami Dade
County code Chapter 24 as part of the Sewer System Evaluation Survey (SSES)
Program to detect defects in the system and reduce rain or groundwater inflow
and infiltration into the sewer gravity system. Smoke Testing activities will be
conducted by all utilities within the County once or twice every ten years.”