Greeneville Public Works employees are placing time-released briquets in all storm drains and other areas with pooling or standing water on properties owned by the town to prevent the emergence of adult mosquitoes.
This is being done in an effort to reduce the risk of mosquito-borne diseases.
The application process will treat the mosquito larvae, which will continue to develop to the pupal stage, when they will die, according to a press release from the town.
"Under normal weather conditions, the briquettes should last the entire mosquito season or up to 150 days. This application process works best at or before the mosquito breeding season begins.
"To further reduce the mosquito population and to prevent their chances of becoming ill, residents are reminded of the following precautions:
* "Apply insect repellent containing DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) when you are outdoors.
* "Consider staying indoors at dawn, dusk and in the early morning hours, which are peak mosquito biting times.
* "If you have to go outdoors, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants, if possible.
* "Place mosquito netting over infant carriers.
Eliminate mosquito breeding areas by:
* "Getting rid of old tires, tin cans, buckets, drums, bottles or any water holding containers.
* "Filling in or draining any low places (puddles, ruts) in your yard.
* "Keeping drains, ditches, and culverts clean of weeds and trash so water will drain properly.
* "Covering trash containers to keep out rainwater.
* "Repairing leaky pipes and outdoor faucets.
* "Emptying plastic wading pools at least once a week and store indoors when not in use.
* "Filling in tree rot holes and hollow stumps that hold water with sand or concrete.
* "Changing the water in birdbaths, plant pots, or drip trays at least once a week.
* "Keeping grass cut short and shrubbery well trimmed around the house so adult mosquitoes will not hide there."
BRIQUETS FOR SALE
The Town of Greeneville will offer the time-released briquettes for sale to the public at a cost of $4 each. They can be purchased at the Recorder's Office in Town Hall.
The briquets can be used to treat ponds, ornamental ponds and fountains, construction and other man-made depressions, cattail marshes, tree holes, woodland pools, floodplains, water hyacinth beds, roadside ditches and detention ponds.
