Sept. 30 2003 – Critics of today's television fare have been known to comment that a lot of what shows up on their screens seems to be straight out of the sewer.
Inspectors working with the Public Works Department on St. Croix are seeing the real thing on their TV sets these days.
But that's exactly what they want to see. In a project to determine which of the exit lines in the island's sewage collection system require cleaning, repair or replacement, technicians are utilizing television equipment that will show them the condition of the lines.
The project has just gotten under way, according to a Government House release distributed on Tuesday, and as a result, there may be some offensive odors here, there and everywhere throughout the island.
The bad smells have nothing to do with the television equipment, except for the fact that manholes must be opened so that the TV gear can be placed in position to do the job it's intended to do. As a result, the release stated, Public Works personnel "have been traversing the island opening manholes for the inspection of the sewer lines."
What happens, it said, is that "as the manholes are opened and their seals broken, there will be a release of non-toxic sewer odors. These odors, though temporarily unpleasant, will dissipate quickly."
While that aspect of the project stinks, it apparently will be a small price to pay. "We anticipate that the public will experience an improvement in the overall sewer collection system within the next two weeks," Public Works Commissioner Wayne Callwood said in the release.
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