OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE CITY OF FLORENCE, MS

Don't throw those needles in your trash! Take them to a FREE pharmacy collection site. 

To find a site near you, call 1-888-786-0661

May take approximately 3 weeks to complete entire city. 

Smoke Testing

Smoke testing is performed to help identify areas where unauthorized water is entering the sanitary sewer system.  Unauthorized water can cause an unnecessary load on the Wastewater Treatment Plant.   During the testing, a special, non-toxic smoke is forced into the sewer lines.  The smoke leaves no residue or stains and has no effect on plants or animals.  Direct contact with the smoke may cause minor respiratory irritation in some people.  Door hangers will be placed on homes in each neighborhood prior to smoke testing.  Testing cannot be performed in certain weather conditions, so it can sometimes be delayed after the notice is placed. 

Smoke in your home or building

To keep smoke from unnecessarily entering your structure, run water into all of your drains for one minute, especially those drains you use infrequently, this will block passage of smoke into your home through these drains. 

If the non- toxic smoke should enter your home it could be caused by the following: 

Vents connected to your buildings sewer pipes are inadequate, defective or improperly installed. 

Traps under sinks, tubs, basins, showers and other drains are dry, defective, improperly installed or missing. 

Pipe, connections, and seals of the wastewater drain system in and under your building are damaged, defective, have clean out plugs missing or are improperly installed. 

If you do see or smell smoke in your structure, you may contact the City of Florence Public Works Department at 601-845-3542 or MSI at 601-750-3159.  You can open windows for ventilation, smoke will soon dissipate.  

Do not be concerned if you see testing smoke coming from the rooftop sewer vents.  This is normal.