Thread: Foreclosures are increasing West Nile dangers

Foreclosures are increasing West Nile dangers

The Associated Press
Article Launched: 06/06/2008 09:11:20 AM PDT

LOS ANGELES—Foreclosures are increasing West Nile virus dangers because of stagnant swimming pools behind abandoned homes.

The foul pools are breeding grounds for mosquitoes, which can pass West Nile to humans and horses. The spike in mosquitoes comes earlier than the usual summertime appearance of the pest.

The Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District got 288 service requests last month, nearly double the 145 in May 2007.

Agency spokeswoman Truc Dever says "all of the evidence is pointing to a very active West Nile season."

The tiny Gambusia affinis, a tiny fish that devours mosquito larvae, are put in stagnant pools to help eliminate the threat.

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_9501933

Dumb question here---why don't they drain the pools, leave the drains open for rainshowers instead of stocking them with tiny Gambusia affinis fish?

The level of the bottom drain in most inground swimming pools is below the sewer, or storm drain height thus defeating a gravity drainage.

To drain a swimming pool the water must be pumped out either with a portable pump, or the built in pump that services the swimming pool.

Usually the electricity has been shut off at the offending homes, thus negating either effort unless they happen to have a portable generator or gas engine driven pump.
Also in the next rain the water will be back in the bottom of the pool, causing the same problem again, and the residual water left in the pipe in the bottom of the pool will still cause a mosquito problem.

The fish eat the mosquito larvae, and stop the problem until the pool goes completely dry.
JBG