The Health and Safety Program protects the health and safety of the general public through its facility inspections, solid waste enforcement and vector control activities.
Facilities Inspection
Facilities inspectors protect the health and safety of El Paso residents through the regulation of public laundries, mobile home parks, public pools and spas, and tattoo and body art studios. All of these facilities have certain risks to public health and safety, due to the presence of water (which can allow insect breeding, and encourage bacterial and algal growth), solid waste storage, and the potential for exposure to blood (when applying tattoos or body art).
Solid Waste Enforcement
Residential waste and recycling bins and commercial waste dumpsters often have the potential to be overfilled, poorly maintained, or placed in a location contributing to a nuisance. Additionally, waste and recycling in the City may only be collected by haulers permitted by the Environmental Services Department. The Solid Waste Enforcement team is responsible for ensuring that residential customers comply with the rules for using the garbage and recycling bins, and for inspecting permitted haulers to make sure that collection vehicles are maintained in accordance with the solid waste ordinance.
Vector Control
Vector Control inspectors perform a multitude of tasks related to investigating and abating insect and rodent problems in the City. Responding to complaints of bedbug infestations in hotels, mosquito breeding in poorly-maintained private pools, and fogging city streets to minimize mosquito breeding are all part of the of a Vector Control inspector’s daily routine. These inspectors are also responsible for patrolling areas of ponded water on public property to check for insect breeding and to apply insecticide or larvacide, when needed.
Report mosquito breeding
If you're itching for relief from mosquitoes contact the Code Compliance Division of the City of El Paso Environmental Services Department at 599-6290.
Code Compliance Inspectors assigned to Vector Control take the necessary steps to try to control the adult mosquito population throughout El Paso County.
Our citizens can help prevent the spread of mosquitoes by getting rid of standing water that located outside their homes and businesses. Remember, mosquitoes can breed in even small amounts of water.
Other prevention measures shared include: making sure your roof gutters drain properly, keeping the vegetation in your yard trim, and keeping swimming pools cleaned and chlorinated even if they are not being used.
How to avoid mosquito bites
Try to stay indoors during dusk and dawn. During warm-weather months mosquitoes are more active at dusk and dawn.
Cover up by wearing shoes, socks, long pants and long-sleeved shirts when outdoors for long periods of time or during hours when mosquitoes are most active.
Apply an insect repellent that contains DEET. On children 2 to 12 years use an insect repellent that contains 10 percent or less DEET. Repellents may irritate the eyes and mouth so try not to apply them to the hands of children. For adults use products that contain no more than 35 percent DEET. Do not use DEET on infants or pregnant women. Some people may be allergic to products that contain DEET.
How to prevent mosquito breeding
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Get rid of any tin cans, jars, plastic containers, plant pots, old tires and any other containers that can hold stagnant water outside of your house.
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Properly dispose of old tires.
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Make sure roof gutters drain properly.
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Keep all swimming pools cleaned and chlorinated even if they are not being used.
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Remove any standing water from culverts.
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Store plastic wading pools, buckets, barrels and wheelbarrows upside down so that the water cannot accumulate in them.
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Change the water in birdbaths and pet dishes at least once a week.
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Aerate ornamental ponds or stock them with fish.
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Weeds, tall grass and shrubbery provide an outdoor home for mosquitoes, so keep your yard trimmed.
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Use landscape as a way to prevent accumulation of stagnant water.
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