Stagnant, green pool water has west El Paso neighborhood concerned about mosquitoes

As three confirmed cases of West Nile in El Paso were announced on Friday, an ABC-7 viewer reached out with concerns about their neighbor’s neglected pool being a potential breeding ground for mosquitoes that carry the virus.

The pool in question, which sits in the backyard of a house at 619 Alethea Park Drive in west El Paso, clearly has green water and could pose a health risk if mosquitoes start using it to breed.

The viewer, who didn’t want to be identified, claims they had reached out to the city of El Paso and called 311 to report the problem saying, ” t he City has virtually condoned everything by closing out the cases on the pools. They recently closed a case on a pool complaint saying there is no sign of mosquito breeding. It’s shameful they can’t foresee that it will ultimately become one. We are seeing an increase in mosquitoes now. I have asked the owner’s wife to empty or clean it, but they cite the city’s approval as justifying not doing anything. Pretty insane. ”

However, the city is refuting the claim. A city official says when it comes to this incident and others like it, the city takes action right away.

” We can’t force someone to drain their pool so basically what we are looking for is the public’s health, ” said Jimmy Smith, the city’s code compliance manager.

Smith went on to say that vector control will treat the pool if there is an issue.

” So in a case like there is a pool or standing water or something like that we’ll go out we will dip it and pull out the contents that are in there and if there are wigglers or tumblers then we know there is mosquito breeding and if there is a mosquito breeding we will treat it, ” he explained.

Smith said they have treated the pool in question to kill eggs and larvae if mosquitos try to breed there.

The neighbors tell us they have tried to reach out to the property owner, and the people living there. But they claim the homeowner won’t empty the pool unless the cit makes them do it.

ABC-7 also reached out to the people living at that home and have yet to hear back.

Another person living in the neighborhood expressed similar concerns and said there is still a mosquito problem in the area despite the city treatment effort.