Help! Mosquito larvae found in my flower pot....

[sundaymorningstaple]

Carparks and General Storm drains when overflowing are not stagnant, therefore pose little risk to mosquito breeding. it's only still waters that are not boiling hot (e.g., a puddle in the middle of a concrete or macadam slab for parking) that provides the necessary breeding site for mosquitoes. bottle caps, kopi cups, styrofoam containers tossed under a bush somewhere and collect rainwater in the shade are perfect as are, of course, the usual suspects like the overturned bucket in the laundry wet area that has water collecting in the underside of the bucket lip, the water in the vase that hasn't been changed in a week, the plate under the bucket, etc. etc.

Sorry, but no, I don't see the difference. A little common sense would go a long way here. If you go on holiday for a month and left your home as a breeding ground, They would make a number of trips back to your abode at different times of the day/evenings and they would leave notices on your door. Repeated attempts where the notices have been removed but contact not made with their offices would probably result in more affirmative action on their part. Same with notices posted and not removed (e.g., left the country on hols). At some point in time they would get a court order to enter the premises, accompanied by the police. (But only if it was determined that your unit was the likely breeding ground.

[JR8]

Yep that's perfectly understandable, when explained in that way (why a flooded car-park might not matter so much). Actually there was additional flooding nearby at the ground-level behind a large building nearby. That was over those perforated concrete and grass parking 'slots', in the shade of trees too. They got that fixed right about the same time the last 'cluster' was found here (I think on that occasion I reported it). Right now they're enclosing/covering the roadside storm drains too, so presumably they have enough concern about that too.

As I said I am very conscious of the issue (and generally very 'neighbourly'). I rechecked the notice today, and the inspection period is not 3 days, but actually 5. I don't know if these are revised dates...

I would have thought the goal for everyone is that the job is carried out in an effective way. But I feel expecting householders to take up to a week off work is contrary to that, simply because many people cannot do it.

Maybe a system or half-day appointments would work better? Back home if the meter reader wants to call, or say the gas company want to come and inspect you 'intake gas valve', change the meter, or similar, then they (similarly) will do a whole street in one week. But they'll give you a half-day 'window appointment' (say 9-12.30, or 1.30-5.30). It's still something of a nuisance, but it's more efficient, and better than losing up to a week's leave I suppose.

Hence my feeling that their rather arbitrary/blanket approach, is likely to create inefficiency of that process in return.

The issue boils down to the apparent counter-productive vagueness of the time-tabling.

[JR8]

Post-script:
They called, in fact, it was just one guy. He was very courteous and clearly showed me his ID. [This was contrary to my previous experience, as described].

He inspected the balcony, and then by-passed the kitchen and went to check the bathrooms, saying something about plants (which puzzled me). From one bathroom I could point out to him there had been ponding nearby at two areas of car-parking, one totally shaded and still clearly wet, which he noted and thanked me for. Total time, less than two minutes. So it was no-sweat and chalk vs cheese with my previous experience.

It wasn't until afterwards I clicked that the neighbouring unit has plants visible on the window ledge in their bathroom. The sort in glass containers, where the plant sits in a shallow neutral base medium, with water+feed (hydroponic?). Their plants were moved for a day, but are now back again ... hmmm, maybe for the same reason he wanted to see our bathrooms?

@SMS you suggest the roadside storm drains aren't a problem. But these nearby ones were flooding and blocked for quite some time. So much so that they currently seem to be undergoing a project of covering these drains over in the neighbourhood.


p.s. Just yesterday I was reminded of a nearby uncle shop, where the owner rather curiously keeps a few fish tanks outside.. Beside which, on the ground, are maybe 5-6*5 gallon ex paint barrels full of water. I wonder if he collects rainwater for his aquaria ? Hmmm#2. Maybe I should take a picture and report it ...

[sundaymorningstaple]

Check the positioning of the barrels to see in they are in the runoff zone from a collection source higher up (roof or whatever). Lots of people here do that just for the purpose of watering plants/mopping floors and as you noted, refilling of freshwater aquariums without the worry of floride/chlorine etc added to the drinking water and such. Normally if the containers are in the run-off zone then they won't breed mozzies as the daily influx (virtually every afternoon at some point) normally will prevent the water from stagnating. It's those containers that are not in the normal line of runoff and hold water that are usually the problem. fish tanks, as long as there are fish inside, will normally not stagnate or even if they do, the larvae usually just become snacks for the fish. Also, he might have put BTI granules in the fish tanks if they are not holding fish. Reporting a neighbour without ascertaining the validity of a complaint might not be a wise thing to do. After all, if there are that many containers, I'm sure the NEA officers would have checked them in any case.

[JR8]

It's not a neighbour, it along a strip of ground floor shop units under an HDB block, in the neighbourhood. In fact come to think of it I recall this grid of blocks being a dengue cluster a few years ago. Of course I'm not connecting the two. If he was causing a risk back then I'm sure they would have nailed him for it.

The water runs off a roof, and he's rigged a tarpaulin to direct it into said barrels. All well and good if it rains everyday, but monsoon ends soon and I might be forced to do my 'civic duty' hehehe...

[AC expat]

Where can I find information on how much the fines will be? Thank you!

[the lynx]

Where can I find information on how much the fines will be? Thank you!

Homeowners currently can be fined S$200 if they are found to be breeding mosquitoes in an area where there is a dengue cluster. Recalcitrant offenders face fines not exceeding S$5,000 and/or imprisonment not exceeding three months.

http://news.xin.msn.com/en/singapore/mi ... o-breeders

[rajagainstthemachine]

^

that poster was just just posting to get his post count to 5

[sundaymorningstaple]

It used to be 300 for the first offense and 1,000 for subsequent offenses.

[AC expat]

Thank you, this is very helpful!

[Mum456]

Comforting to read this. The NEA inspector found larvae in a pail I thought was empty and covered but had standing water in it. I feel very neglectful, as I have a 4 month old baby, and i get very anxious about his health. I had just sprayed the bedroom where I found a mosquito, left it to aerate for a while, but I totally overlooked the pail, as it was covered.
We don't have a maid. During the day I take the baby to a nanny and I work, then come back and watch him myself. In between I do the household work, which is when he's asleep. Sometimes it's not much, more of laundry and washing of bottles and baby stuff. Weekends I mop the floors, clean toilet etc.
The inspector looked like she understood my situation and said she felt sorry to have found mosquito breeding place in my home.

[AndyAng]

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