WATER STAGNATION

WATER STAGNATION

Water Stagnation and its causes

When standing water is left unclean and unattended for a long time, it leads to water stagnation. Water stagnation can be seen after rains. Rainwater collects in different places like potholes, open tubs and blocked drains. Other places where may also collect in hollows of trees.

Ponds and lakes have a lot of still water. But this water may not be stagnated because there is continuous movement in water due to birds, fish and even dragonflies. Some fish feed on the mosquito eggs which prevents mosquitoes from breeding. If a swimming pool is not cleaned regularly even that becomes stagnated water.

Effects of Water stagnation

• water stagnation results in the breeding of mosquitoes.
• female mosquitoes bite us and suck blood from our body.
• they carry disease-causing germs. The disease-causing germs are passed on to humans when they bite. Diseases like Chikungunya, Dengue, and malaria are all caused by mosquito bites.
• other than breeding of mosquitoes, water stagnation also leads to the foul smell in the surrounding air. This foul smell arises due to living organisms that die in stagnant water.

Preventing Breeding of Mosquitoes

The main reasons for breeding of mosquitoes are water stagnation. So, if we prevent water stagnation, breeding of mosquitoes would be controlled. Other ways to prevent breeding of mosquitoes are:

• keeping the surroundings clean
• keeping stored water containers covered
• to protect ourselves from mosquitoes, we can use different mosquito repellents. For example, nets, coils, creams etc.

Preventing water stagnation

• All potholes and puddles need to be filled with mud.
• Drains along the roadsides and on roofs of houses should be regularly cleaned.
• keep water coolers clean and dry when not in use.
• dispose of off all junk in the house so that there is no place for water to stagnate.
• keep the water tanks and other containers covered.