War on mosquitoes launched by City

The City of Richmond has engaged in a six-week sewer assault in an effort to keep West Nile Virus at bay: Beginning the week of Aug. 6, the City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities will launch a citywide effort to reduce and eliminate the existence of mosquitoes with West Nile Virus infection. In response […]

August 9, 2007; 3:03 AM • by North Richmond News

The City of Richmond has engaged in a six-week sewer assault in an effort to keep West Nile Virus at bay:

Beginning the week of Aug. 6, the City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities will launch a citywide effort to reduce and eliminate the existence of mosquitoes with West Nile Virus infection. In response to recent positive findings in various parts of the City, DPU will be treating the entire City on an aggressive six-week schedule.

During this process, DPU contractor, US Pest Control, will treat each storm sewer within the City of Richmond with three control materials designed to kill mosquitoes at each level of development from larvae to adult stages. These materials have been determined non-toxic, safe for humans and pets and have been approved for use in storm sewers by the VA Department of Health. In addition, DPU employees will treat catch basins located within the City right-of-way using a microbial product to be provided by US Pest Control.

According to state regulatory policies, larviciding must be performed by persons who possess a state applicators license. DPU has contracted US Pest Control, a company certified by the Office of Pesticide Management, VA Department of Agriculture. US Pest Control has a record of success, having performed this service for the City of Richmond in 2002 with excellent results – not a single call back for an area to be re-treated.

For more information, call DPU’s Customer Care Center at 644-3000 or visit DPU’s Web site at www.richmondgov.com/dpu.