IPM Coordinator Calls For Cessation of Usage
IPM Coordinator Calls For Cessation of Usage“Internally it was an oversight, we should have been keeping track of it in our own records.”
It was only used when tests indicated significant root intrusion rather than broadcast widely.
However Alan Pryor, a member of the public questioned its effectiveness for this purpose.
“It’s a fumigant by nature, it’s very volatile and I haven’t heard anything that says in the literature that it’s particularly effective against roots. That’s what caused my jaw to drop here. I know there are a lot of other things that are used by the aborists that are much more effective for root infestations. That something we need to look into. It is a proven human carcinogen and it is probably next to methyl bromide, the most single highly regulated chemical in agriculture. It has strict limitations where it can be used, how it can be used, the proximity to schools, I think at the very least we should take the aggressive step that we aren’t going to be using that anymore because it has no place in the city.”
Because of its volatile nature, it is believed to breakdown very quickly and vent through the main sewer escaping through vents.
Mr. Guerena:
“It was used in the past, there is no residual. At the time I can’t say how much people were exposed to.”
Alan Pryor suggested that if exposed to it, you would know it right away.
“The risk is in the future, even in a closed containment system if those people aren’t wearing full respirators with full face shields on it in a closed environment, they could run a real risk.”
That question is more open.
John McNerney:
“It was handled properly, it was treated as any hazardous chemical is treated according to the label. The label by law has to say how do you keep your workers safe.”
He continued:
“The question that light now is being shown on this particular chemical, yeah there are some real problems with it. We need to look at alternatives. We need to look away from using that.”
But one of the questions was how effectively it was labeled:
“Even though it’s labeled and used widely in other municipalities, how much are people being exposed to it, that’s what really just starting to understand.”
IPM manager Martin G became aware of this problem and brought it to the city’s attention.
“The label unfortunately was a little lax as far as personal protection it did not require sufficient protection as far as masks and personal respirators.”
Mr. McNerney:
“I’m sure they were following the label…”
Then acknowledged:
“I’m sure our guys didn’t have the knowledge. The label that was supposed to be keeping them safe, may not have kept them safe.”
He continued:
“That’s one of the benefits of having Martin who comes from the background that he knows all of the particular chemicals and the problems they may have in the environment. Now we have this feedback and he’s showing us how to protect ourselves to a greater degree.”
McNerney told that commission that now that Martin Guerena has brought it to our attention there probably things that the city can use that are healthier to environment, healthier to people applying it.
As Martin Guerena said, most of work in the fall. It will be phased out this year in the fall when they field test this. THere is concern that alternatives won’t be as effective at preventing infiltration of roots into the line.
Commentary:
This issue brings up several different types of concerns. I specifically asked Mr. McNerney and Mr. Guerena if there was a public health hazard from past usage. The answer was that only likely to the people who specifically applied the chemical who may not have been properly protected.
However, it makes one wonder what else we are using in this city that has not been properly classified as a pesticide or as a hazard to city workers and even the public.
As long as the city stops using this particular chemical, there should be no specific threat to the public. However, again, what else are we using that we should not be. This is definite concern.
The other question is what else are we putting in our sewers that could potentially be getting into the water supply. It seems rather pedestrian that we were using this product in the sewers for at least five years up until 2008 in this day and age without a true sense for what the product was and what its effect might be on both the health of those applying it to the environment and the environment itself.
As Alan Pryor said more generally during public comments:
“I don’t think this integrated pest management plan goes nearly far enough.”
It is good that Mr. Guerena brought it to the city’s attention. However, it is unfortunate that the city would use it at all given the sensitivity of this community to issues like pesticide use.
—David M. Greenwald reporting
What commission was this issue brought before? Who is Mr. Guerena? Why was he alerting the city to this problem? What department of the city was using a pesticide they shouldn’t have been and in a way that was inappropriate?
Also note the following words:”That’s one of the benefits of having Martin who comes from the background that he knows all of the particular chemicals and the problems they may have in the environment. Now we have this feedback and he’s showing us how to protect ourselves to a greater degree.” This does not sound as if there is a definite phaseout of this chemical, but a “maybe” if they can’t find something more effective.
Also, if this is going into the sewer system, how much of the misuse of this chemical is responsible for us having to rebuild an entire new sewer plant bc our water quality doesn’t come up to snuff? I assume one doesn’t have anything to do w the other, but I do have to wonder…
“During the Integrated Pest Management program’s 2008 annual report at the Natural Resources Commission meeting Monday night, IPM Coordinator Martin Guerena”
[quote]What department of the city was using a pesticide they shouldn’t have been and in a way that was inappropriate? [/quote]
Apparently split between parks and also public works
[quote]”This does not sound as if there is a definite phaseout of this chemical, but a “maybe” if they can’t find something more effective.”[/quote]
One point that was kind of raised is that Martin Guerena was more definitive but apparently he’s only a “consultant” which means he only “advises.” Why have a guy in that position unless you give him managerial authority?
[quote]Also, if this is going into the sewer system, how much of the misuse of this chemical is responsible for us having to rebuild an entire new sewer plant bc our water quality doesn’t come up to snuff? I assume one doesn’t have anything to do w the other, but I do have to wonder…[/quote]
I don’t think there is anything.
I have a sink and a tub that I rarely use, and their traps run dry sometimes. Any chance of the material wafting up into a building through dry traps or cracks in sewer lines?
I would be more concerned about what all of the Davis homeowners are dumping down the sewer lines to kill roots and clear lines. What is effective and safe?
Some years ago, I had to replace my sewage pipe* that runs from the front of my house out to the street connection. The original was destroyed by tree roots — principally from my fruitless mulberry. Silly me, I never knew (before reading this) there was such a thing as a chemical “Davis homeowners are dumping down the sewer lines to kill roots.” Does Drain-O count in that category of chemicals? I’ve certainly used that.
*Pipe is a term of art. Back in the day, sewage “pipes” were made out of rolls of tar paper. I’m not sure if Orangeburg was the name of the company or its product, but that’s what most tract houses around mine had underground. And in a 5-6 year period starting about 10 years ago, everyone had to replace his Orangeburg. The replacement, very heavy-duty black plastic pipe, should last a lot longer.
FYI. Usually the pipes are not the problem – its the joints. They used pitch to “glue” the clay pipes together and roots go right through that stuff. Plastic pipes are tied together with rubber joints and stainless cinch straps.
If I’m not mistaken, Orangeburg was used during WWII to conserve on metals. I can’t imagine why they were still using it when my house was build in 1967, but they were. My home had a large weeping willow tree in the front yard and for 16 years we called Rapid Rooter two or three times a year to snake tree roots out of the pipes. By 1995 the orangeburg pipes had pretty much collapsed and I had a new sewer pipe installed which went across the front of the house and straight down to the city pipes, bypassing the tree. The following year the tree died, most likely from lack of “sewer” nutrients and was replaced with a CA redwood.
I’ve been so sick since I moved to this unit in Davis. I found out that the neighbors down the street had to replace the ceramic pipelines from the house to the street. Isn’t there money coming from the stimulus exactly for this type of infrastructural work to be done? This is not good. Our pipes are eroding, toxins are coming out into our homes and making us sick, they are being leaked out into the ground water. How, will someone please just tell me how it is possible that Davis is environmentally friendly? It’s not. It’s dirty town filled with agricultural chemicals and spills, the air is dirty. I can’t wait to leave. This place is too expensive and you don’t get your money’s worth. If you stay too long here, you tend to rot.
I don’t know,, sounds like a big cover up to me,… typical city of davis big brother attitude dumping pesticides in our sewers, really just a front for Monsanto…. and what about all the tree roots… man…. trees need roots too!!!! Yeah,, man’s, that’s it, people just got to realize, man, we need to live in balance with nature, and that means roots.. if you want trees, man,,, you gotta have roots… no roots, no trees… that’s how it works, man!!! Everybody is so uptight about roots, they’re just an upside down tree in the ground, it’s all how you look at it.. dumping meta-spam in the sewer or crap in the air, it’s all the same.. and this stuff volatizes and it up and out the sewer vents… ok,, where are the vents… they’re everywhere.. we are surrounded by dead roots….. we need to get City of Davis back to affirming our live roots… stick our civic toes in the ground and create a little root – soil interface where we can groove with the Earth, man… and put down some righteous roots… Jah, man.
Roots, Rocks, and Reggae, to save the day… Bob Zomer (former Davisite).
“What department of the city was using a pesticide they shouldn’t have been and in a way that was inappropriate?
Apparently split between parks and also public works”
You mean the same department that is insisting we spend megabucks on a new sewer plant and water project that is going to cause this city to drive out the low income and middle class, who are not going to be able to pay the huge increase in sewer and water rates? Seems to me the credibility of the Dept of Public Works in Davis is a bit shaky at the moment!
I’m certainly not opposed to criticizing the city. However, I think the more potent line of inquiry is to ask why these chemicals were not labeled properly as pesticides, whether the workers came to harm, and finally, and probably most importantly, what other substances are we using at the moment and shouldn’t be. I don’t see a direct or indirect line between the use of pesticides to clear roots in the storm drains and sewers and the city’s water policies.