Thu 20 May 2004

Markham Economist & Sun - News

Town aims to blow away West Nile with windmills

By: Ashley Joannou, Correspondent

Markham has a new weapon to battle the spread of the West Nile virus.

Windmills are being installed at 10 storm water management ponds
around town to see if they can help control the mosquito population.
The aerating windmills will blow air into the ponds giving the water
oxygen and keeping the water moving.

"Since mosquitoes need still water to multiply, we are hoping that
this moving water will keep them away," said Victoria McGrath,
manager of environmental leadership for the town.

The 15-foot windmills cost $2,000 each and will require little maintenance.

Along with the windmills, York Region will continue to use pesticides
on all catch basins on public property to kill any mosquito larvae
growing there.

If they work, the windmills may be a better long-term solution to
fend of mosquitoes.

"They are a natural approach that will not only be better for the
ecosystem but that residents should also find esthetically pleasing,"
Ms McGrath said.

Markham is not the first town to try windmills to discourage mosquito
growth.

Vaughan installed a windmill on Rutherford Road, between Keele and
Jane streets, last August. Although no tests have been performed to
see if there are fewer mosquitoes, some changes in the water have
been noticed.

"Just from the water's appearance, you can see that the quality of
the water has improved," said Rob Meek, manager of environmental and
technical services for Vaughan. "We have much less algae and no smell
coming from the water."

The real test will come this summer when the hot weather makes
Markham's ponds potential mosquito breeding grounds.

At the end of the year, the town will decide whether the windmills
worked and if more should be installed.

Illustration:
. Staff Photo/Sjoerd Witteveen / Regional Councillor Jack Heath
(left), Councillor John Webster, Deputy Mayor Frank Scarpitti and
Councillor Erin Shapero add some air to the windmill program designed
to stir storm water ponds to prevent mosquitoes.