Conshohocken To Be Sprayed For West Nile Virus Control

NORRISTOWN, PA – Conshohocken is among three local municipalities that will be sprayed with chemicals to help control the growth of the mosquito population and the spread of West Nile Virus, the Montgomery County Health Department announced Wednesday.

Spraying will also take place in West Conshohocken and Whitemarsh, in locations where officials have identified mosquitoes that carry West Nile Virus.

It's the first spraying scheduled for the county thus far in 2016, after several sprayings in 2015.

Officials will use Duet Duel-action Adulticide, to be dispersed from a truck mounted sprayer at a rate of .75 fluid ounces per acre. The spraying will occur on Monday, August 8, from 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. in mosquito breeding areas. Residents within the spray area should consider remaining indoors, closing windows, and turning off ventilation systems that draw-in outside air for the duration of the spray plus 30 minutes after, officials said.

All areas within the highlighted sections of the maps below could be sprayed:

The health department has issued several tips to help residents avoid mosquito infestations and occurrences of West Nile:

• Identify and eliminate all sources of standing water that collect on your property. Mosquitoes will breed in any puddle that lasts for more than four days.

• Dispose of tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots, or similar water holding containers that have collected on your property. Do not overlook containers that have become overgrown by aquatic vegetation.

• Pay special attention to discarded tires that may have collected water on your property. They can serve as a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

• Drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers that are left out of doors. Drainage holes that are located on the container sides collect enough water for mosquitoes to breed in.

• Have clogged roof gutters cleaned on an annual basis, particularly if the leaves from surrounding trees have a tendency to block drains.
• Turn over plastic wading pools when not in use. A wading pool becomes a place for mosquitoes to breed if it is not used on a regular basis.

• Turn over wheelbarrows and do not allow water to stagnate in birdbaths.

• Aerate ornamental pools or stock them with fish. Water gardens are fashionable but become major mosquito breeding grounds if they are allowed to stagnate.
• Keep swimming pools clean and chlorinated. A swimming pool that is left untended becomes a source of mosquito breeding. Be aware that mosquitoes may even breed in the water that collects on swimming pool covers.