TEAMING UP TO TACKLE SEWER RATS

8th April 2008

A Rentokil Case Study with Yorkshire Water:

Victorian sewers in need of modernisation:
Much of the UK’s sewerage system has not been changed or modernised since Victorian times. The ageing infrastructure presents a huge challenge for water companies and local councils to manage and maintain the networks. A failure to do so could result in water contamination affecting local residents and prosecution from the Environment Agency, so no water board can afford to take the risk when it comes to tackling pest control.

The UK’s rat population is growing at a fast rate. Leading pest control expert, Rentokil, has reported a 26 per cent increase in rat-related call outs, and this is supported by the recent ‘Rodent Report’ from the National Pest Technicians Association (NPTA), which indicated a 39 per cent and 69 per cent increase respectively for brown rats and ‘summer’ rats from 1999 to 2005. The NPTA believes the reduction in sewer baiting is one of the major contributors to the rising rat population and maintains, in addition, that increased fly tipping, badly managed recycling, poor advice on composting and excessive wild bird feeding, are exacerbating the problem. Whilst the Rodent Report 2007 showed a slight reduction in rat activity, other sources highlight how the issue has intensified over the last summer and autumn period.

Barrie Sheard, Chairman of the NPTA said, “Local authorities and water boards are under increased pressure to maintain environmental standards and high levels of customer service. New legislation being driven by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), is set to make this challenge even greater. The responsibility for some sewers will be changed in 2010 from the hands of local government to private water boards. This makes it imperative for local councils, water boards and pest control companies to work closely together to battle against the growing rat population and make sure this changeover is as smooth as possible.”

Close collaboration to tackle pest control:
Yorkshire Water has demonstrated how effective communication and collaboration with local councils and pest control companies like Rentokil can pay huge rewards. Yorkshire Water head up the OFWAT (Office of Water Services) tables and hold the government’s prestigious Charter Mark for service excellence. The water company prides itself on ensuring a pleasant environment for Yorkshire residents, and central to this benchmark was the adoption of a robust pest control strategy. Tony Huddlestone, Sewer Baiting Contract Manager for Yorkshire Water, explains, “As one of the largest water boards in the UK, we manage vast areas of urban and rural land and have to work hard to deliver the high standards of service our customers expect. By working closely with 23 local councils and Rentokil, we were able to monitor and combat any rat infestations. Proactive sewer baiting enabled us to bring the rodent population under control and Rentokil are always on hand to deal with any reported sightings by residents, visiting homes or sites in less than 48 hours.”

As part of its huge regeneration programme, Yorkshire Water adopted the National Protocol for Cooperation on Rodent Control, which sets out guidelines for close cooperation between water boards, local authorities and pest control companies. Close liaison with surrounding councils helps Yorkshire Water to deal with any problems, as the council will clear any particular sites that are contributing to a rodent infestation or remind residents to deal with the problems on their own property or land. Within the pest control community, there is a heated debate as to whether or not increased sewer baiting will make any impact on the rising rat populations. Yorkshire Water’s proactive stance on this issue was to map out, and employ Rentokil to bait them on a regular basis. As part of this process, Rentokil baits 95,000 manholes each year and recommends areas for structural improvement to further improve the company’s management of pest control.

Richard Jones, Key Customer Director at Rentokil, comments: "There is no doubt that rodent activity is on the up and the fact many companies are reducing sewer baiting is only allowing the problem to escalate. There is a link between the pests above and below ground, and the work that we carry out for Yorkshire Water covers both areas to combat the growth in rat numbers. With the privatisation of the sewer network set to come into force within a decade, water companies and councils need to take steps now to work together and put the necessary pest control measures in place for the future.”

Professional pest advice:
Rentokil recommends the following guidelines for local authorities and water boards:

1. Establishing regular meetings between water companies and local councils to develop joint strategies to control the rodent population
2. Consider proactive sewer baiting within any strategy and seek professional advice and guidance in this area
3. Asking the environmental health department to inform of any problem spots of fly tipping or excessive waste
4. Always listen to what people are telling you: if residents report strange scratching noises or evidence of rat droppings, go and investigate immediately. Don’t let the problem escalate by delaying a full investigation of the problem.
5. If in doubt, commission a full survey. Follow up any unusual sightings.
6. Local authorities can liaise with tenants associations within their area. They are in a better position to spot problems if there are any.