HOLTS SUMMIT, Mo. - Between the heat and the smoke rising from the ground, it almost seemed like the workmen had tapped into the bowels of the earth.
In reality, TREKK Design Group is just testing Holts Summit's sewers for leaks, cracks and other issues. Tests began Monday and will continue through July. Homeowners in affected areas being notified in advance through flyers.
"Any time you have a crack or a leak in the sewer line, every time it rains you'll get additional flow through the lines," Sewer Maintenance Department Supervisor Keith Edwards said. "If you get additional breaks and cracks, you'll get a backup into the homes."
The extra water also puts strain on pump stations and the purification system, he added. That's why the city wants to patch any cracks before they can cause problems.
While the crew works, residents may see what appears to be smoke leaking through the ground, around manhole covers, through storm drains and from vent stacks in roofs.
"Almost every house or commercial building has vent stacks," said Steve Wilson, who works for TREKK. "People look across the street and see their neighbor's vent stacks smoking and get worried."
He said the chemical used to produce the smoke, nicknamed smoke oil, is nontoxic and odorless.
"It's almost a clear cooking oil," Wilson said. "It just heats up inside a motor and turns into a vapor. It's pushing air through the lines, so that sewer gas might come up through the manholes."
If anyone smells anything, the sewer gas is likely to blame, he said.
A city representative said if smoke comes up through residents' floor drains, pouring water down the drain should stop the smoke and keep sewer gases out of the home.
Work is beginning on the west side of U.S. 54, and crews will be working north to south.
Just a day into working on the project, Wilson said the crews are already finding plenty of issues.
"We've found quite a few items but nothing major," he said.
If someone spots smoke coming through the ground or around a manhole but doesn't see a crew, they can contact Wilson or Edwards.
Edwards can be reached by calling 573-896-5600, and Wilson's number is 573-819-1912.