The prevention of mosquito breeding in sewage treatment facilities

Also published as a chapter in the Australian mosquito control manual in 1998.Sewage treatment facilities can be major sources of pest and vector mosquitoes (Whelan, 1981, 1984, 1988). Nutrient rich sewage and sewage effluent has the capacity to produce enormous numbers of mosquitoes. As treatment facilities are usually relatively close to communities, these mosquitoes can cause large and continuous pest and potential public health problems. The mosquito breeding associated with sewage treatment facilities is usually associated with their inadequate design, operation and maintenance, or faulty methods of effluent disposal or dispersal. Some of these problems can be rectified in the planning stages, while others need consideration in the operational phase. There is a need for increased awareness of the nature of the potential problems among designers, operators and regulators of sewage treatment facilities. This paper outlines the problems, and suggests design and operational practices that can reduce mosquito breeding.Date:1998-1