JONESBORO, Ark. — Jonesboro City Water and Light is conducting smoke testing in portions of the city’s sewer system through Wednesday. Officials emphasized that the smoke used in the testing is harmless.
According to City Water and Light spokesperson Slade Mitchell, the procedure is part of routine efforts to detect potential issues within the sewer lines. The testing area includes neighborhoods and businesses bound north by Greensboro Road, south by East Thomas Green Road, west by North Caraway Road, and east by North Church Street.
Mitchell explained that if smoke is seen rising from the ground, it may indicate a defect in the sewer lateral—the pipe connecting a property to the main sewer line. In such cases, property owners would be notified of the issue.
“That indicates that maybe the sewer lateral to the home has some sort of a defect,” Mitchell said. “We would notify the homeowner, and then that would be a job for a licensed plumber to inspect and address.”
Testing can also cause smoke to enter homes, particularly through dry plumbing drains. Mitchell advised residents to run water through sink and tub drains to reduce this possibility.
“People may see smoke coming out of the exhaust pipes from their home,” he said. “If you see smoke coming out of the ground, that indicates there’s a potential problem there, maybe in need of repair.”
If smoke persists inside a home despite basic precautions, this could signal a leak or other concern. Homeowners are advised to contact a licensed plumber in that case.
The testing is a standard municipal practice to ensure the sewer system operates efficiently and to prompt timely repairs where needed.