Smoke Testing

On October 20, Water Utility Services conducted smoke testing near North River Crossing. Underground smoke testing can help detect issues in sewer pipes. Staff force non-toxic smoke into the sewer system. As the smoke makes its way through the connected pipes, and any visible smoke in grassy areas, through cracks in the pavement or near homes can indicate cracks or flaws in pipes.
Residents whose homes might be affected by the smoke testing are notified ahead of time, but smoke should not be visible inside the home during the test. Smoke inside buildings can indicate damage to pipes, seals or vents.
In these photos, you can see the manhole where smoke is introduced into the sewer system, an open manhole at the end of the connected sewer pipes and smoke being released along the road due to damaged seals and missing caps.
Lake Brazos Dam Update

The Lake Brazos Dam repairs and improvements are mostly complete. Some vegetation restoration will still take place over the next several months, but the construction, began in October 2022, is nearing completion.
The earthen embankment had eroded over time, which threatened the stability of the dam. The project repaired that erosion and stabilized the dam, improving operations and upgrading the electrical components.
The dam is stable and up-to-date, thanks to these improvements, installation of new structures and the ability to monitor lights and water level with our SCADA system.