The City of Belmont is conducting sanitary sewer smoke testing to help identify and mitigate infiltration and inflow (I&I), which occurs when groundwater and stormwater enter our closed wastewater infrastructure, including sewer pipes. Infiltration occurs when the groundwater table rises, allowing water to push into cracks, joints, seams, and older parts of our infrastructure. Inflow occurs when stormwater seeps through manholes or compromised pipes that require repairs, or in low-lying areas near flooded creeks. I&I increases the flow of water to our wastewater treatment plant, which doesn’t necessarily need to be treated yet, and mixes it in with wastewater that does need to be treated. Wastewater treatment plants operate more efficiently and effectively when they have a consistent flow. During heavy rain events, the increased flow can cause an unnecessary burden to both the sanitary sewer infrastructure and the wastewater treatment plant. Smoke testing is a cost-effective and efficient method for identifying sewer problems before they lead to costly repairs and disruptive issues in the future.