Gutter inspections in Poland. Huge penalties
Some municipalities in Poland have decided to inspect gutters and sanitary installations. According to portalsamorzadowy.pl, special inspections will be carried out in the Bielsko-Biała communes of Kozy and Wilamowice, involving smoke in the sewage system. This is a unique technique in which thick, non-toxic smoke is injected into the pipes. If smoke comes out in unusual places, it is a sign of a failure or incorrect connections. Smoke coming from incorrect places may indicate that the entire installation is not connected in accordance with regulations. In this way, the authorities respond to signals about large amounts of clean water entering the system, which may lead to its overload during heavy rainfall.
The fuming method involves injecting a thick, white and completely thick substance into the pipes. It comes out at places of damage or incorrect connections, indicating exactly where the problem is. If the installation is not connected in accordance with the regulations, smoke may appear on the surface – for example in gutters or sewage grates. First, the inspections will cover the Kozy commune, and then Wilamowice. Residents will be informed about the schedule of activities via municipalities’ websites and social media.
A fine of up to PLN 10,000
The main purpose of the control is to limit the inflow into the sanitary sewage system. The mayor of Wilamowice, Kazimierz Cebrat, announced in an interview with Radio Bielsko that people who discharge rainwater into the sewage system must take into account the financial consequences. Illegal connection of a gutter to the sanitary network may result in a fine of up to PLN 10,000, and in extreme cases also a penalty of restriction of liberty.
Bielsko County already has experience with similar activities. A few years ago, smoke inspections were carried out there, but recently there has been an increase in the amount of clean water entering the sewage system. Similar inspections have also been carried out in other parts of the country, including: in Krotoszyn, where both the sanitary and storm sewage systems were checked for illegal connections.
What does smoke in the gutter mean?
If smoke appears in the gutters, it means that the installation is working properly. The problem occurs when smoke escapes from the gutters when it clogs the sanitary sewage system. In such a situation, it may indicate that the gutter is illegally connected to the sewage system.
Specialists remind that sanitary sewage systems have much smaller pipe diameters and are not adapted to absorb large amounts of rainwater. During heavy rains, this may lead to system overload and serious problems with its functioning.
Previous events in the Miedźna commune also led to similar conclusions, where the scale of the problem with illegal discharge of rainwater into the sanitary sewage system was revealed during the flood.
