Stormwater ponds and vector control for mosquitos
Do something nice for your environment today. When building a new home, or renovating an existing home, vent your rain drain discharges and hand excavated french drains into various hand excavated drywells located on the property, rather than storm sewers. Better yet, create stormwater retention ponds.
This practice spreads the roofwater and the collected groundwater from your hand excavated french drains around to various areas of the property, and as the collected groundwater perks into the soil, it keeps your yard and landscape green and fresh, without having to pump as much water from the tap.
This saves money, and makes a green environment that your family will enjoy. Stormwater retention ponds have their own benefits.
Many homeowners are creating stormwater retention ponds on their property for roofwater and groundwater storage. If the amount of groundwater and roofwater is significant, the groundwater that is stored can be pumped to irrigate the landscape and vegetable gardens. Oxygen can be increased in the pond with a fountain, which also is very cool to view, and brings birds to the pond.
Remember to put some sort of liner in the pond to prevent the perking of the groundwater into the soil instead of being held in your pond.
Think green science groundwater storage when at all possible. Stormwater retention ponds are fantastic additions to the charm of any home, and can be a wonderful source of enjoyment providing planting areas, wildlife attraction, bird habitat, fish habitat, and irrigation water for the landscape.
Stormwater retention ponds can be large in size, to small ponds. Estimate the amount of groundwater to be stored with a home drainage professional for best results. Also provide for groundwater storage overflow that does not create groundwater problems for neighbors.
This saves money, and makes you money at the same time. The value of your property increases, and you pay less on your water bill. Gotta love that.
Most counties have an agency that will give you free, enough fish of a small species that eat mosquito larva, and keep the water in the pond free of skeeters.
In the Portland, Oregon tri-county area, the organization is call “vector control”. Just go to their facility and tell them the size and depth of your pond. They will give you enough fish to start your fish breeding, mosquito eating project.
Everyone wins. Try it, you will like it. I have used them myself, and kids love to be involved with the fish planting project as well.