Here Is Why You Might See Smoke Around Tinley Park On Monday

TINLEY PARK, IL — The Tinley Park Public Works Department plans to test the sanitary sewers from south 167th Street to Hickory Street, and east 80th Avenue down to Oak Park Avenue, starting Monday, if weather is permitting.

Officials informed residents that the Public Works crews will be blowing tracing smoke into the municipal sewer to locate any leaks. The smoke is not harmful and should not enter any homes unless there is a dry trap or plumbing problem present, according to the village. There is a chance that workers may need to enter a resident's backyard, but not the home.

"To prevent smoke from coming up through drains, pour about a quart of water into all sink and floor drains, especially in little-used drains in spare bathrooms or under washing machines," the village said. "Be sure to fill the traps before the project begins. Doing this also prevents odors from the outside sewers from entering your home."

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If a resident detects smoke in their building, the village says to simply open a window and the smoke will dissipate quickly. If this happens, alert a nearby smoke testing crew. During testing, residents could potentially notice smoke coming from the plumbing vent stacks on the roofs of neighboring homes.

The village said residents are asked to notify any handicapped or shut-in neighbors of these tests. If a resident has respiratory problems or other questions, reach out to the Public Works Department at (708) 444-5500.

See the project map for the neighborhoods affected.

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