BAY MINETTE, Ala. — Thanks to North Baldwin Utilities, some downtown Bay Minette businesses are being filled with smoke this week.

During Wednesday morning’s regular meeting of the NBU Board, General Manager Jason Padgett announced that utilities workers are smoke-testing sewer systems in the Courthouse Square area of downtown Bay Minette to check for cracks caused by sever weather and to find plumbing issues in businesses.

“We’re looking for storm-drain cracks because we want to keep groundwater out,” he told the board. “We want to find areas of defect.”

Padgett explained that crews informed business employees of the tests and put written notification on office doors. The workers explain to employees that the smoke is not hazardous and can be dispersed by opening doors.

Smoke will not enter businesses at all unless through defective plumbing or evaporated shower traps, Padgett said. If it does, employees should notify utility staffers who will then try to determine the location of the problem so that business owners may have the area checked.

Also Wednesday, Padgett urged board members to heighten awareness of illegal fire-hydrant usage.

“If people steal water from a fire hydrant, it could reverse siphon and could suck up contaminated water,” he said. “This is also a way terrorists can contaminate water supplies.”

Engineering Manager Larry Stejkal pointed out that the concern lies more with integrity of the water than with lost revenue.

“Accountability is important, but people could inadvertently contaminate, and we need to protect the water supply,” he said. “Security of the system is paramount.”

Padgett also warned that summer months draw more water-hydrant activity.

“This time of year, a lot of farmers are hurting during the drought,” he said. “We need to account for all the water we pump.”

Padgett said that first-time violators of water hydrants will be warned, but upon second offense, violators will be picked up by the sheriff's office.

“The courts will prosecute,” he said.

The board also announced completion of line expansions on Baldwin County Road 112. The month-long project ended Tuesday and replaced 6-inch pipes with 12-inch pipes.

In other business, the board voted unanimously to send a letter to the Bay Minette City Council in support of the megasite to be located adjacent to U.S. Interstate 65.

Also Wednesday, the board announced a change in next month's meeting date. As some members will be out of town during the regularly-scheduled slot, the meeting will take place at 8:30 a.m. July 21.