Eliminating Standing Water

The Virginia Department of Health recommends the following to reduce mosquito-breeding sites around your home:

• Turn over or remove containers in your yard where rainwater collects, such as potted plant trays, buckets, or toys.
• Empty bird baths once a week.
• Remove old tires from your yard.
• Clean roof gutters and downspout screens.
• Elimnate standing water on flat roofs, boats, and tarps.
• Clear obstructions in ditches so they flow and drain. Fill in puddles with soil, or a mixture of sand and gravel, or dig drainage ditches to drain puddles.
• If puddles or ditches cannot be drained or filled in, treat standing water with mosquito larvicide's (dunks or granules) that can be purchased at any hardware store.
• Do not allow water to collect in your garbage can.

Other Standing Water Issues

• City or County Property – Call your city or county government about standing water on public property.
• State Roads – Call the Department of Transportation at 1-800-367-7623 about standing water along state roads.
• Storm Water Retention Ponds - Call the Department of Conservation and Recreation at 804-786-1712 or visit their website http://www.dcr.virginia.gov