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RootX success stories
Terry Ellis
Wastewater Systems Supervisor
City of Ashland, OR
The city of Ashland in southwest Oregon, population 20,755, has 105 miles of sewer lines serving about 6,500 residential and business customers. According to wastewater systems supervisor Terry Ellis, the city uses about 1,300 lbs. of RootX every year. Ashland switched to RootX about five years ago from a restricted-use herbicide that contains metam sodium. As a general use product RootX "does not have some of the safety concerns that our previous product had,” Ellis said. “RootX is also easier for the operators to apply and does not require any additional equipment other than the FDU-100.”Root intrusion is a problem in a large percentage of Ashland's system, and the city is still in the process of inspecting and treating all of its pipes. The city uses video cameras to inspect sewer lines, treating areas with major root problems first. Root masses are cut using a root saw, nozzle, or mechanical rodder, followed by RootX treatment to kill the remaining roots and prevent re-growth.
Areas with moderate growth—where roots block 15 to 30 percent of the pipe—are treated with RootX using the FDU 100 foam dispersal unit or the vacuum method. Once a line is treated, the city follows up with a video inspection after six months. “It works well for us,” Ellis said.
“RootX is easier for the operators to apply and does not require any additional equipment. It works well for us.”
— Terry Ellis, City of Ashland, OR