South Ironton residents can expect some smoke testing this week.

The city just finished the smoke testing process for North Ironton and will move into the South Ironton area this week.

“Actually it’s going pretty good,” said Doug Cade, of E.L. Robinson Engineering. “We’re finding some downspouts that are tied into the system. It’s not surprising, but it’s not allowed.”

During the test, nontoxic smoke is put into the sewer system to determine what residences and businesses have storm drains that are tied to the city’s sanitary sewer.

The testing is a part of the sewer rehabilitation process but in the North Ironton area, it also aided in the design of the North Ironton sewer separation project, the construction of which is planned for Spring 2012.

“One of the things we have to do is determine where the storm water is entering the sewer system,” Cade said. The smoke testing will alert them to problem areas. “If downspouts are tied to it, it will come out the roof drains,” he said.

The schedule for the sewer rehabilitation project is as follows:

Manhole Cover Replacement

 Third Street alley between Jefferson Street and Madison Street

Third Street alley between Etna Street and the Wastewater Treatment Plant

Sewer Cleaning

Sewer cleaning will take place throughout Ironton in various locations.

Sewer Lining

Union Street

Lorain Street between Ninth Street and 12th Street

Third Street between Sycamore Street and the Floodwall

Third Street between Pearl Street and Union Street

Fourth Street alley between Clinton Street and Ashtabula Street

Sixth Street alley between Latonia Street and Wyanoke Street

Ninth Street between Ashtabula Street and Lorain Street

11th Street alley between Wyanoke Street and Ashtabula Street

Smoke Testing

Smoke testing will take place throughout South Ironton.