2019 Agency Winner
City of Moscow: Chemical Free Weed Control

• Problem: The City of Moscow Public Works Dept. has in previous years employed a private contractor for chemical herbicide application to control weeds in the public rights of way. Increasing annual cost and difficulty securing bids for this service in 2019, coupled with community desire to reduce human health and environmental impacts of herbicide use, led staff to investigate alternative measures.
• Solution: Environmental Services Group (ESG) staff investigated hot water/steam equipment as an option in place of chemical herbicides. Use of this technology is relatively new in the United States, but is used extensively in Europe and Australia. Staff was able to consult with the University of Colorado Boulder to verify that the units available in the western U.S. would meet the needs of Moscow Public Works Department. Although CU Boulder uses this tool to control weeds in landscaping applications, their experience with the equipment provided valuable information which gave Public Works and ESG staff confidence moving forward. After evaluating the available equipment, budgetary considerations, and operator availability, staff determined that purchasing a hot water/steam unit was the appropriate action for the City of Moscow.
• Labor, Equipment, Materials: Weedtechnics SW800 Saturated Steam unit. Flat bed one ton pick-up. Streets Department Seasonal Operations Staff.
• Expenses: SW 800 – $15,792, Estimated annual wages – $3,200 to $4,800
• Savings: The annual budget for private chemical weed control contract was at $13,500, which had increased in all but one of the last 6 fiscal years. The $2,292 difference for the acquisition cost of the equipment from FY2019 budget was covered within, and without over expending, the budget line. The total cost of acquisition and operation for the first two years is $27,312, just $312 over FY2019 budgeted amount carried over to 2020. Savings of at least $6700 will begin to be realized annually in FY2021. The SW 800 unit uses only saturated steam (water heated to 235-250 degrees F) at about 5 psi to kill weeds. This boils the water inside of the plant, exploding the cell walls. This kills weeds effectively, and because the cells are ruptured the plant decomposes rapidly. And since only steam is used, the equipment can be used in any weather without risk of chemicals being washed away by rain or blown to unwanted areas by wind.
   Industry trends are moving away from herbicide and pesticide use as much as is practicable in order to reduce the associated environmental and human health exposure. The Weedtechnics SW800 is a versatile tool that can help the City of Moscow build on that momentum and move forward in a sustainable and responsible manner.