Pittsfield to begin sewer smoke testing Oct. 21

The City of Pittsfield announced Oct. 19 that it has contracted Flow Assessment Services, working with engineering firm Kleinfelder, to conduct smoke testing of the sanitary sewer system. The work is meant to locate sources of unwanted water entering the system, as required by the Department of Environmental Protection.

According to the city, such unwanted water can reduce capacity in the sewer system, raise operational costs and cause wear on infrastructure. Addressing the sources identified through testing is expected to help the city manage and lower long-term operational and utility costs.

During testing, field crews will blow air and non-toxic white smoke into sanitary sewer lines in the street and watch for where it escapes, which reveals leaks. Smoke is expected to come out of building roof vents under normal conditions.

The testing will begin Wednesday, Oct. 21, and continue over the next several months. Before work starts in a given area, Flow Assessment Services crews will leave door-to-door notices 24 to 72 hours in advance. The city will also send notifications through its Mass Notification system before testing begins in a specific neighborhood; residents can sign up by creating an account on the Mass Notification page and selecting the alerts they want.

Crews are expected to be in a neighborhood for a few hours, though each individual smoke test takes about 15 minutes. Residents do not need to be home during testing. When notified that testing will occur nearby, residents are advised to check that drain traps under basins, washing facilities and floor drains contain water, flush toilets, and run or pour water into all drains, including unused fixtures and floor drains.

Anyone in a household or business with respiratory problems or mobility limitations, or with additional questions, can contact the city's Engineering Department at (413) 499-9327 or Flow Assessment Services at (888) 311-9799. The city said additional resources, including frequently asked questions, are available on the Sanitary Sewer Smoke Testing page on the city's website.

Source: City of Pittsfield announcement, October 19, 2026.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the original announcement.