Water that accumulates in puddles outside or inside your house can be more than an inconvenience. It can also be a health hazard to you and your loved ones.
Standing Water Can Attract Insects
Puddles of water draw mosquitoes. They can carry harmful diseases, including West Nile virus, Zika and malaria, that can have devastating effects on human health, including death. Mosquitoes reproduce quickly, and even a small amount of water is enough for eggs to hatch. Standing water can also attract rodents. They can leave behind waste that can make you and your loved ones ill.
Stagnant Water Can Be Contaminated
Water that collects in puddles on the ground might be contaminated with a variety of hazardous substances, including pesticides, other chemicals, animal waste, sewage, bacteria and parasites. A person who touches contaminated water can experience a range of troubling symptoms, including respiratory irritation, headaches, skin rashes, vomiting and diarrhea. If someone has an uncovered wound and touches water that has been contaminated with harmful bacteria, the wound can become infected.
Water Can Lead to Mold and Mildew
If water accumulates indoors, it can create a breeding ground for mold. Spores can spread throughout your house and cause the air quality to deteriorate. That can trigger coughing, difficulty breathing, headaches and other symptoms. Individuals who have pre-existing respiratory conditions, such as allergies and asthma, are most likely to be affected. Mold inside walls can impact people’s health, and its location can make it difficult to detect and remove.
How to Prevent Standing Water and Keep Your Family Healthy
There are several ways to deal with stagnant water. The first step is to figure out what’s causing the problem. If water is collecting in puddles in the yard, the ground might be sloped in a way that directs rainwater to that spot. A contractor might be able to adjust the grading of the yard to make water flow away from the house.
Installing a drainage system might be the best way to deal with standing water. An experienced contractor will be able to figure out which type of drainage system is most appropriate for your circumstances.
The drainage issue might be related to your gutters. If they’re clogged with leaves and other debris, water can flow over the sides of the roof instead of passing through the gutters and downspouts. A contractor can clean the gutters and install gutter guards to keep debris out, reduce the amount of maintenance that will be required in the future and help prevent further problems.
If standing water is an issue inside your house, it might be due to a leaky pipe or a damaged roof. Try to identify the source of the problem, then hire a local plumber or roofer to make repairs.
