Mosquito control is the best way to impede illnesses like West Nile virus and strains of encephalitis.
Mosquitoes are responsible for spreading several illnesses including the West Nile virus and some strains of encephalitis. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one of the most effective preventative measures you can take against mosquitoes is to remove potential breeding grounds by checking for and removing all standing water around your home, because this is where mosquitoes lay their eggs and where larvae are produced. Several suggestions made by the CDC include emptying standing water from bird baths, pet bowls and old tires. However, leaking faucets or hoses and drainage pipes can also lead to wet areas that make for optimal breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Visually inspect all hoses and water faucets around the outside of your home. If there are leaks, tighten the faucet with a wrench. Also, install rubber washers on the inside of all hose and faucet connections.
2. Use a shovel and dirt to cover any exposed drainage pipes running from your home or yard out to the street.
3. Check all sewer and water traps around the outside of your home to make sure that they are covered. These traps are typically covered by screw-on PVC covers. However, if you have no covers on the traps, purchase some and screw them on.
4. Rake out and trim foliage in all ditches thoroughly with a lawn trimmer to help facilitate the flow of good drainage. Home owners are typically required to maintain landscaping on and around ditches, although technically the ditches are the rights of way for the city, county, parish or, in some cases, the homeowners' association. If your ditches are not flowing properly, contact the applicable water and sewer board to have the problem addressed if there is standing water in your ditches that will not drain.
Tags: your home, standing water, around outside, around outside your, breeding grounds