Multiplying Foreclosures Lead To Increasing Abandoned Houses

October 1st, 2008

Foreclosures are multiplying and so too are the numbers of abandoned houses. The health officials of counties are extremely worried about the vacant houses and the swimming pools. These pools are left to the care of the elements and are becoming the perfect nesting places of mosquito larvae. The situation gets worse as the summer heat rises.

The health departments of Maricopa County have been receiving 250% more complaints about the mosquito-ridden pools in comparison to the previous year. The statistics are staggering. Johnny Dilone of Maricopa County Environmental Services reports that during the first five months of 2007 there had been 597 calls. This year the number has jumped to 2,096.

Mosquitoes spread many kinds of diseases. Encephalitis and West Nile flu are only two of these. Both the infections are extremely harmful especially for the elderly and those suffering from impaired immune systems. Not only humans but horses too are extremely susceptible to the West Nile flu.

Although actual number of cases has not yet been reported the increasing complaints is a warning that the situation could soon go beyond control. The health risk is a potential danger and cannot be ignored.

The response to the complaints takes up time and money. However the Maricopa County is going about it in its own way. The difficulty is that the owners of the foreclosed vacant houses cannot be easily located. Sometimes it proves to be impossible. So as a next best alternative a search warrant is procured so that the pools can be treated. The larvae are killed with insecticide oil and then gambush fish are let loose in the pools to feast on the remaining mosquitoes.

The locals are being told to be more proactive and respond to the challenges of the dangers of these vacant foreclosed houses. A committee has been set up in Surprise to deal with foreclosure related problems that is challenging the community. Troy Corder belonging to In Surprise highlights the dangers to the health risks the community is facing and as such all should be alert about the ‘green pools.’ It is considered a Class 3 misdemeanor if orders to eliminate mosquito pools on private property are not attended to. But if the house is a foreclosed abandoned unit then the County cannot prosecute immediately the absent owner. The foreclosures victims are being requested to drain the pools before handing over the houses to the banks.