Cutting costs in Wagga City with Vaporooter

After several trials with the Drainchem Minifoamer and Vaporooter, the City of Wagga Wagga has decided it is the most efficient solution to and prevention from sewer chokes and blockages, as well as the best maintenance for the draining lines. The trial was aimed at old problematic areas, especially places with old clay pipes and maturing or mature trees.

Due to the Minifoamer’s and Vaporooter’s herbicide formula, the live invasive roots were killed, and their natural decay is expected. The combination of herbicide and root inhibitor not only fixes the problem, but also keeps working on it for up to three years, by preventing further blockages and retarding root growth. As the killed roots decay and clear up the pipes, the cracks they had created in the lines contract under the ground pressure, thus prolonging their life and efficacy.

Because the Vaporooter involves an ongoing process and does not require permanent assistance, it enables the teams in charge of sewer operations to take care of maintenance and not only emergency calls, as they used to. The Vaporooter technology and methodology allow for prevention and long-lasting solutions instead of quick fixes of urgent matters.

The Wagga City trial of the Vaporooter has started with problematic areas and, as it has proven efficient, it will go on to all the areas. After fixing the pipes dealing with sewer chokes and overflows in critical areas, the supervisor of sewer operations will start a maintenance program. By preventing the drain line problems, the sewer staff saves time and energy which would have otherwise been spent on emergencies.

Another time and cost saving is the fact that the Vaporooter technology can be used by in-house staff. Due to the nature of the foaming process, the Council can tackle drain pipe blockages and overflows concomitantly with other urgent matters. As foaming can be paused while the Council deals with something else, and easily continued when time is available, the Council has much more freedom and schedule flexibility. Plus, the scheduled annual foaming of the sewer mainlines will ensure a regular cleaning and preservation of the pipelines and an insurance against sewer chokes and overflows.

Q&A about Sanafoam Vaporooter II

1. How does Sanafoam Vaporooter II work?

Sanafoam Vaporooter II is a foaming mixture of herbicides which prevents drain line stoppages that occur due to tree root penetration of pipes. This technology tackles the problems caused by live root infestation by attacking the roots inside the pipe.

The foam containing a combination of Metham Sodium (herbicide) and Dichlobenil (growth inhibiting agent) is introduced into the sewage pipe, so that it can have direct contact with the intrusive roots. The treatment softens and kills the live roots, leaving them to naturally disintegrate within six months.

If the pipe blockage is in a very advanced stage and requires cutting the roots, it is advisable to wait for a period of at least six weeks between the cutting and the Vaporooter treatment, so that roots have time to regrow. If the Vaporooter is applied according to instructions, its root growth inhibitor effect is valid for up to three years.

2. How can tree roots destroy pipes?

The root cells, which can be microscopic in their first stages of development, look for warmth and humidity so that they can mature. In their search, they discover drain lines, which they can penetrate through extremely small openings and this allows them to gradually grow inside the pipes.

As the roots mature inside the pipes, they create blockages. One of the least efficient methods of unblocking the pipes is cutting down the roots; this actually leads to a more forceful regrowth of the roots.

3. How can Sanafoam Vaporooter II help save time and money?

Sanafoam Vaporooter II eradicates the roots, while also inhibiting their future growth. Because Vaporooter both fixes and prevents, the costs and time spent to unblock the drain lines, make sure the live roots do not grow again and even to replace the lines, are considerably reduced.

4. Is Sanafoam Vaporooter II environment friendly?

The Sanafoam Vaporooter II technology does not affect trees and plants surrounding the sewer pipe – only the roots inside or in the very near vicinity of the pipe. The trees and shrubs above the pipe, for example, are not damaged by the treatment.

Plus, the low level of toxicity, as well as the non-acidic and the biodegradable features of the Sanafoam Vaporooter II make it environment friendly. Being registered with APVMA is proof of the non-toxicity of the products, as this body evaluates the effect of chemicals on the environment.