ULV Spray Applications

ULV spray truck

Spray Notices:

CMMCP will issue schedules starting in May before residential fogging applications begin. These schedules are issued approximately 2 weeks prior to each month and are available on our website.

Notices are sent to all City/Town Clerks, Selectmen/City Councils and Boards of Health. The tentative spray areas are also posted on the CMMCP phone system at (508) 393-3055 after 3:30pm each day.

Operations:

All spraying is done using highly specialized truck-mounted equipment. Sprayers are computer-controlled to dispense fine droplets 10-30 microns in diameter. Trucks drive 10-15mph with a flow rate of 4.5 oz/min. This equates to 1.5 ounces per acre of a 4% solution. The trucks have GPS tracking that shows the application areas. Exclusion areas are also uploaded onto the computer tablets and show up as the vehicle approaches - see map below for more detail.

map

In the picture above, green hexigons indicate sprayer on, red hexigons indicate sprayer off. The orange polygons (shapes) listed exclusion areas (no sprays). The information box shows additional tracking data such as time, truck speed and direction, as well as weather data.


Tentative Areas:

Tentative ULV Spray Areas are the areas received by citizen’s request. CMMCP does not perform routine, area-wide spraying. Names and house numbers have been removed for privacy purposes. Multiple listing indicates multiple requests received on that street, but not necessarily in the same area. Some or all of these streets may be done, or maybe only individual yards, or parts of a neighborhood. Additional areas not listed here may be sprayed due to surveillance gathered at that time or additional resident’s complaints. This program is dependent on such factors as time, weather and prevalent mosquito populations, and is subject to the spray operator’s discretion.

Beginning August 6, 2001, all tentative spray areas received by citizen’s request scheduled for that evening will be listed on the CMMCP phone system after 3:30pm. Please call (508) 393-3055 to access this information. 


Precautions to Observe:

Generally, there are no special precautions and no need to relocate during mosquito control spraying. The pesticides have been evaluated for this use and found to pose minimal risks to human health and the environment when used according to label directions. Although mosquito control pesticides pose low risks, some people may prefer to avoid or further minimize exposure. Some common sense steps to help reduce possible exposure to pesticides include:

  • Listen and watch for announcements about spraying in the local media and remain indoors during the application to the immediate area. Please remain inside for 15-20 minutes to allow the pesticide to drift through the area, or longer at your discretion. Scheduled spray areas are available at this link by 3:30pm each day: https://www.cmmcp.org/home/pages/tentative-spray-areas - the same informnation is available on our phone system at (508) 393-3055
  • People who suffer from chemical sensitivities or feel spraying may aggravate a preexisting health condition, may consult their physician or local health department and take special measures to avoid exposure.
  • Close street-facing windows and turn off the outside air setting on window air conditioners when spraying is taking place in the immediate area to allow a more thourough application. The spray is not expected to enter buildings and technicians will shut down the sprayers when they see open doors or windows. Central air units do not take in outside air, it’s OK to leave them on. You may open windows and activate window AC units 15-20 minutes after the application, or longer at your discretion.
  • Do not let children play near or behind truck-mounted applicators when they are in use. Pets should be brought inside if possible or their cages covered to allow a more thorough application to be performed – any accidental exposure to pets should not cause a problem, we are using a pesticide similar to ones used for flea and tick control but in much lower concentrations.

truck