Did Sacramento stop spraying its sewers for cockroaches? Your question answered

Summer in Northern California invites cockroaches into many unwanted areas in our lives, including in our homes, yards and even on the street — such as in sewer manholes and drains.

And with temperatures warming up in the area, roach sightings and complaints are more likely, said Paige Bedegrew, spokeswoman for the Sacramento Area Sewer District.

But where do these roaches exactly come from, and how do public sewer agencies manage these pests?

A reader asked The Bee’s utility team, “Has the city of Sacramento stopped spraying its sewer system for roaches?”

They added that pest control companies say this is a “huge factor” for the rise of cockroaches in the region.

The short answer: No. The city still sprays the sewers.

The Bee talked to city and county officials to learn more about cockroaches living in the sewage system, how they are managed, and what residents can do to protect their homes from an infestation.

Why do roaches come to the sewer?

Roaches typically live in close proximity to humans and residents throughout the year, and prefer dark, damp environments. They’re usually found around homes, under building structures, in gardens and parks.

But during the summer, cockroaches gravitate toward the sewer as other habitats tend to dry up when it’s hot out. The sewer system, on the other hand, remains wet year round.

“That’s typically why we start seeing an increase of calls or concerns as it relates to cockroaches in the warmer temperature months because they like that area,” Bedegrew said. “It’s not uncommon — it’s pretty much just the norm.”

The insect also seeks out different food sources such as decaying organic material, which is often found in wastewater, she added.

In drier weather conditions, such as in Sacramento, roaches find shelter in storm drains, floor drains and pipes, according to the SASD. Sprinkler and irrigation boxes are also a “desired” place for cockroaches to live.

How agencies manage roaches

The Sacramento Department of Utilities usually sprays its sewer facilities every two years to manage cockroaches and other pests in the sewer system, using an “integrated pest management” (IPM) approach.

This year is a regularly scheduled time for the city to spray primarily in manholes, and the department “[expects] to begin spraying as soon as possible,” spokesman Carlos Eliason said. The city sprayed off schedule last year due to an increase in calls about pests.

“Cockroach activity goes up in the summer, and that’s when we’ll start to apply the pesticides,” Eliason said.

The utilities department manages drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services for the city. It uses IPM concepts to deal with roaches in the sewer system, which is the “least toxic way to deal with pests.”

“Certain kinds of pesticides and other chemicals and elements can be harmful to aquatic life,” Eliason said.

IPM programs keep in mind the life cycles of pests and how they interact with people and their environments, according to the federal Environmental Protection Agency. This information is used to manage pests “by the most economical means, and with the least possible hazard to people, property, and the environment.”

The goal is for the water to contain the least amount of harmful elements before it is introduced into rivers — home to fish and other marine animals.

When it rains, excess water, or runoff, goes onto the street and into drains, which can carry with it a number of different elements, such as pesticides, fertilizers and heavy metals.

“Water collects all of those things as it goes into the storm drain, and certain types of our facilities do go directly into the river,” Eliason said. “That’s why it’s important to make sure that water is as clean as possible before it enters our facilities.”

The city’s department also works with the Sacramento Area Sewer District, which serves unincorporated areas of the county and portions of Sacramento.

In locations with a repeat history of cockroach activity, the district performs ongoing inspections and cleanings, spokeswoman Bedegrew said.

Some other activities the district performs to prevent and control cockroaches include fogging and baiting, which uses an insecticide fog and bait to kill roaches, and manhole painting, which uses a latex paint that contains insecticides in the walls of a manhole.

How to protect your home from cockroaches

Contrary to popular belief, cockroaches usually do not crawl into homes from sewer pipes, according to the SASD.

“Residents often see cockroaches, and they instantly think that they’re coming from the sewers, which is a common misconception,” Bedegrew said.

If you see cockroaches on your private property, chances are they’re not related to the sewer system and you should call a pest control company to investigate, she said.

It’s important to keep in mind that most roaches are clean insects and don’t necessarily indicate your home is filthy.

In fact, the cockroaches that come inside your home have most likely made a mistake, UC Davis entomologist Lynn Kimsey previously told The Bee. They are unable to live indoors due to a lack of moisture.

However, the district encourages residents to do their part to ensure “they’re not creating that breeding ground or desirable habitat for cockroaches to live.”

Here are some ways you can reduce cockroaches and potentially other unwanted pests from entering your home, according to the SASD.

• Seal cracks/other openings in exterior walls and home foundation

• Pick up pet food between feedings

• Dispose of trash daily and keep lids closed on outdoor cans

• Consider creating a rock barrier between mulch or soil and home foundation

• Make sure your P trap is working properly, which creates a lock on the pipe to prevent cockroaches from entering. These pipes are usually located under your sink.

• Flush floor drains every week

• Seal holes around pipes as cockroaches tend to enter along the outside of plumbing