City workers try to sniff out "phantom smell"

For nearly three years the businesses in downtown Malta have been dealing with what Public Works Director John Demarais calls a “phantom smell.” He said that the smell pops up in random areas, lingers for a few minutes and then disappears.

“We can’t figure out where it is coming from,” he said.

Demarais said that one day about three years ago he got a call from Blades Hair and Nail design, located on the cover of Central Avenue and First Street, complaining about a foul, unexplained odor. He said that the smell was contained to a 15-foot section. The calls, from various people, have been frequent since then.

“We get calls and run over,” said Jim Brown, assistant Public Works Director. “We will get to the place and the smell will be gone. They will say, ‘well, go try Art’s (Furniture.) We would go to Art’s, find a small area that smells and when you come back through it again, it’s gone.”

On Wednesday, April 16, Demararis and the staff from Public Works will be setting off small smoke charges, dropping them into the sewer and then looking for smoke rising from cracks in the line. Demarais said that over the 36 months that the public works team has cleaned the sewers, had a gas sniffer try to find the source of the smell, sent camera down the sewer to try to find possible leaks, but none of the actions turned up where the smell was coming from.

“So we were talking to the one fellow and he said that a good way to try and locate these (smells) is with a smoke test,” said Demarais. “That is what we are going to try next.”

A notice – on a bright pink card – will be handed to anyone who might be affected by the smoke testing of the sewers. The notice states that these test will assist the city public works department in locating breaks and defects in the sewer system. During the tests, people may see smoke coming from the vents stacks on buildings or from holes in the ground.

“Don’t be alarmed,” the notice continues. The smoke has no odor, is non-toxic, non-tasting, does not create fire hazards and will dissipate in a few minutes.

The public works team as that people pour water into your basement floor drains and into any unused sinks which will help seal the drain traps so that smoke will not enter buildings via the drain.

If some should enter a building during the test, it most likely means that there are defects in the plumbing which could allow dangerous sewer gas to enter. Note the location of the smoke and call 654-7067 to arrange a meeting with the public works inspector. Also, open doors and windows to ventilate any smoke that enters the building.

Malta Public Works asks that residents or business owners notify the office before the conduct the test if any of the following situations apply to them:

• Dogs, birds or other pets that will be confined alone in the building during the test.

• A person who will be alone and is an invalid or sleeping during the test.

• Any individual whit respiratory problems who will be in the building during testing.

• Elderly person who will be alone and might be alarmed or confused if they see smoke.

“We are going to light this and stick it down one manhole,” said Demarais. “(The smoke) goes 800, which is two manholes, burns for about three minutes and we use a blower and it will blow (the smoke) down the line and into any buildings. If there are any leaks other than going into the vents, it will go into the building.”

The test will cover are First Street down to Second Avenue and behind the buildings, in the alleys, from Second Avenue back down to First Street, according to Demarais.

“We will go around and notify every person involved,” said Demarais.

The test is scheduled to start at about 9 a.m., and will go on most of the day.

The smoke test will show cracks in the sewer line if there is any breakage, said Brown, but he added that the crew hasn’t seen any breaks when they ran a camera down the sewer.

“We know what it is like when you pull a manhole open,” said Brown. “It’s a sewer smell, but it’s not a real bad smell. What you smell mainly is the smell from when people do their laundry. You smell laundry detergent. Half of the time it’s not that bad. But the (phantom) smell is so septic that it’s like sewer that has been sitting somewhere for half a month in the heat. It’s almost like hog lots smell or something like that.”

“A lot of times it is outside,” said Brown. “But some of times it is in the businesses.”

“I sure hope this works,” added Demarais. “But there are no guarantees that this is going to work either.”

If there are any questions, please call Demarais at 654-7067.