City asking residents and businesses to remove standing water
Posted: Friday, July 19, 2013 9:15 am
This week’s heavy rainfall was a welcome relief to the Central Texas drought. However, the standing water left over from the rains is an ideal habitat for mosquitoes to lay eggs which will grow into larvae and eventually new mosquitoes. In light of recent reports of mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus in Texas, the City of Cedar Park is asking all residents and businesses to please inspect their properties for standing water and remove it right away.
Places to look include wheelbarrows, rain gutters, buckets, plastic covers, toys, or any other containers where mosquitoes can breed. The Williamson County and Cities Health District also recommends taking the following steps to eliminate stagnant water:
· Empty and change the water in pet drinking bowls, bird baths, fountains, wading pools, rain
· barrels, and potted plant trays every 4 to 5 days to destroy potential mosquito habitats
· Drain or fill temporary pools of water with dirt
· Keep swimming pool water treated and circulating
· Clean out rain gutters
· Remove discarded tires or keep them dry and covered
· Add an aerator to ponds and water gardens or add fish that will eat mosquitos and larvae
· Remove debris (leaves, twigs, trash) from ditches and low areas
· Fill in ruts and holes that collect standing waterÂ
For areas where standing water cannot be removed, the City asks residents and business owners to add the bacterial agent Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), which may be purchased at most home improvement stores. Bt is a naturally occurring disease of insects, including mosquitoes, but is not harmful to humans or pets. For more information on Bt, click here .
If you see potential mosquito habitats such as stagnant water ponds, abandoned swimming pools, or discarded tires, please call the City of Cedar Park’s Code Enforcement Division via the Fire Marshal’s Office at 512-401-5200 or visit www.cedarparktexas.gov/reportaproblem to fill out our online report or to download the mobile app CP Connect to report the issue.
The City also recommends that everyone avoid mosquito stings and West Nile Virus by wearing insect repellant and long sleeved shirts with long pants outdoors, and stay indoors at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active. For more information on WNV, click here .
Recent rains provide breeding conditions for mosquitoes, West Nile Virus
Posted in
News
on
Friday, July 19, 2013 9:15 am.