Keeping sewer lines flowing gives rise to a seemingly endless list of problems. Although roots have always been a major source of sewer blockages and structural damage, ever increasing grease and debris make the system manager’s job even more difficult. Overflow fines, public outcry and consent decrees turn this already challenging maintenance issue into a fiscal and political nightmare.

Over the years, the professionals that wage this trenchless war have used a variety of methods to attempt to rid their systems of roots. By far, the most common method has been mechanical root cutting. Unfortunately, today’s most common solution is tomorrow’s blockage problem and a future candidate for replacement.

This balancing act is as old as the country’s infrastructure itself

Although cutting is a necessary tool in the arsenal for clearing blocked lines, it has its drawbacks. In addition to potentially damaging pipes and manholes, cutting roots actually causes them to grow back thicker and healthier. Roots respond to ‘pruning’ in the same way that plants respond – by excreting a protective sap and then growing vigorously in response to the injury, exacerbating the original problem further.

In 1967 the University of California began a study to determine why cutting efforts had not been successful in ridding the Sacramento County sewer lines of roots. The study involved working sewer lines, exposed through careful excavation and analysing the root growth patterns. Unfortunately, the researchers found that the physical environment within a sewer is an ideal growth environment for roots. Since mechanical root cutting only intensified the problem, they began to search for alternative solutions, primarily using chemical treatments.

From an exhaustive list of potential chemistry, they discovered a unique chemical that was very effective at killing all types of roots: Metam Sodium. Metam’s unique ability to kill all roots on contact without harming the plant itself, combined with the fact that the chemical dissipated quickly without leaving any harmful residue behind made it the undisputed first choice. The discovery of the right herbicide was only the beginning of the development of the product that pioneered chemical root control and remains the most effective means of eliminating roots to this day.

Vaporooter took the research even further and combined the attributes of Metam with a powerful growth inhibitor, Dichlobenil. Final commercialisation required testing compatibility with various surfactants to identify a way to deliver the herbicides in dense foam, thereby ensuring all roots and pipe surfaces were thoroughly contacted. Vaporooter was born and for the past forty years, it has proven to be the most effective formula for eliminating roots and preventing re-growth for years to come.

This one-two combination of Vaporooter – Metam Sodium and Dichlobenil – is still the best means of chemical sewer root control available today.

According to CEO of Douglas Products – the makers of Vaporooter – Bill Fuller, other products on the market recommend re-treatment or even post treatment cutting. “These expensive follow up requirements defeat the whole purpose of chemical root control but are necessary with these less effective chemicals; Vaporooter’s Metam Sodium kills the roots on contact and they simply degrade over time. Dichlobenil keeps the roots from coming right back.”

According to the Environmental Protection Agency in the United States, Vaporooter is a superior product. In the EPA’s Environmental Protection Technology Series (600/2-77-017a), they state, “No other method of control approaches the effectiveness found in the four major agencies using Vaporooter.”

The Wastewater Collection System Maintenance textbook published in 1998 by Technomic Publishing company states, “A combination of Metam Sodium and Dichlobenil was found to be an excellent non-systemic root killer. When carefully applied, the combination achieves both immediate and long-term root kills.”

Superior application method

Vaporooter is applied using a once patented process and a specially developed jetter nozzle that generates dense foam with a consistency much like shaving cream. The product also includes a specially-formulated surfactant which penetrates grease and root mass to ensure full chemical contact on all root and pipe surfaces. This industry leading foam technology thoroughly coats the roots and pipe walls thereby significantly reducing the amount of chemical needed to get the job done.

Water authorities have a choice with Vaporooter

Vaporooter has a nationwide network of experienced, licensed, independent contractors applying its product. In addition, Vaporooter has added numerous contractors in recent years including Jeremy Kingston of Dr Drains in Canberra who entered the root control industry following many successful years in other areas of contracting in the sewer industries. Many of Vaporooter’s other contractors are full-service sewer contractors such as David Mackenzie of Macwater and John Farrugia of Clear Flow Services offering cleaning, TV inspection, rehabilitation and many other services to the water authorities they serve.

Vaporooter offers a standardised, skid mounted foam generator that can be placed in the back of a pickup truck or on a small trailer. The Skid Mount Root Foamer can then be connected to any of the cities compatible jet trucks. This flexibility and the ‘off the shelf’ lower cost point is very popular. Vaporooter also offers the Jet-Set Root Foamer, which is a custom designed permanent installation on a jet truck. The equipment, hydraulics and additional tank are installed directly onto the city’s jet truck. A third option that is becoming more and more popular is the ability to specify a root control system when purchasing a new unit. These foaming units are designed to allow operators to treat 1,200 m or more per day.