Catch Basins Research Articles

SEASONAL MOSQUITO PRODUCTION IN STORM SEWER CATCH BASINS OF THE NORTH SHORE SUBURBS OF CHICAGO, 2021 TO 2024.

From 2021 to 2024, the number of pupae found in storm sewer catch basins in the North Shore suburbs of Chicago were assessed as part of routine quality control and improvement efforts. Over the course of these 4 yr, pupae were collected at least once during all calendar months, allowing for some insight into monthly mosquito production in catch basins. Thus, the intent of this study was to use those data to describe the number of pupae found in these structures across calendar months. In total, 1,993 unique catch basins were sampled. Pupae were found during the months of April through December, with the highest levels seen during June through November. Results suggest that basins may remain productive a month or more after local abatement districts end their routine Culex adult surveillance with gravid traps in late September and early October each year. These observations can help with the timing and intensity of larvicide treatments in Chicago area catch basins and may serve as a baseline for comparison to future seasonal changes.

A Case Report on Product Rotation to Manage Severe Lysinibacillus sphaericus Resistance in Culex pipiens from Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District (SLCMAD) detected a 20,000-fold resistance to Lysinibacillus sphaericus (Lsph) in Culex pipiens occurring in catch basins of Salt Lake City during 2016. In response, SLCMAD suspended use of Lsph and rotated use of spinosyn and s-methoprene products for the next three years. At the end of the third year, Lsph was evaluated again and efficacy similar to susceptible colony strains. During the second year of Lsph use, technicians observed lack of control of larvae at some urban sites. Bioassays performed during 2021 showed recurrence of some resistance to Lsph to varying degrees across SLCMAD urban areas. The rapidity with which resistant phenotypes reemerged clarifies that SLCMAD cannot in the near future rely on repeated use of Lsph, even after suspending use for three years and using within-season product rotations. Prior reports in other research groups have found long-term selection to Lsph, as is the case at SLCMAD, to not regress in spite of halting use of the products. However, our findings offer some optimism that regression may be relatively quick. More operational review is needed, and future work should characterize resistance alleles in field populations. Collectively, there is a lack of concrete data supporting the prevailing assumptions from adjacent industries that were adopted into mosquito abatement. We provide this short note as additional guidance for mosquito and vector control districts weighing options to remediate Lsph resistance.

Evaluating Sediment Removal Efficiency of Catch Basin Inserts as a Post-Construction Water Quality Tool on Roadways

Urban areas produce large amounts of stormwater runoff due to vast areas of impervious surfaces. Stormwater inlets, or catch basins, are commonly used for collecting and directing stormwater runoff away from streets and sidewalks. The conveyances used to direct flow to surface waters may be part of a municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s). Typically, MS4s redirect runoff without providing a means for removing harmful pollutants. These pollutants are then often discharged directly into local lakes, rivers, and streams, potentially harming native aquatic ecosystems. Post-construction stormwater practices are commonly used to treat runoff from urban areas by reducing the total runoff volume, lowering peak flow rates, and/or removing harmful pollutants from runoff. However, some post construction stormwater practices require large footprints, construction, and maintenance. Catch basin inserts (CBIs) are one type of post-construction best management practice that are installed within existing catch basins and require no additional land use while still providing a means for removing pollutants from stormwater runoff before entering the MS4. However, limited data is available to demonstrate the expected performance of various CBIs to ensure that these practices meet the pollutant removal standards set forth by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The objective of this study was to evaluate the sediment removal capabilities of eight different proprietary CBI products for potential use as a post-construction stormwater practice for Department of Transportation projects. Results indicate that only two basket-type CBIs met the 80% sediment retention benchmark established for the study. While not surpassing the benchmark, three bag-type CBIs did achieve more than 70% sediment retention. The remaining three CBIs (one basket-type, one bag-type, and one cartridge type) fell notably short of the performance benchmark.

Fecal Bacteria Contamination of Floodwaters and a Coastal Waterway From Tidally-Driven Stormwater Network Inundation.

Inundation of coastal stormwater networks by tides is widespread due to sea-level rise (SLR). The water quality risks posed by tidal water rising up through stormwater infrastructure (pipes and catch basins), out onto roadways, and back out to receiving water bodies is poorly understood but may be substantial given that stormwater networks are a known source of fecal contamination. In this study, we (a) documented temporal variation in concentrations of Enterococcus spp. (ENT), the fecal indicator bacteria standard for marine waters, in a coastal waterway over a 2-month period and more intensively during two perigean spring tide periods, (b) measured ENT concentrations in roadway floodwaters during tidal floods, and (c) explained variation in ENT concentrations as a function of tidal inundation, antecedent rainfall, and stormwater infrastructure using a pipe network inundation model and robust linear mixed effect models. We find that ENT concentrations in the receiving waterway vary as a function of tidal stage and antecedent rainfall, but alsosite-specificcharacteristics of the stormwater network that drains to the waterway. Tidal variables significantly explain measured ENT variance in the waterway, however, runoff drove higher ENT concentrations in the receiving waterway. Samples of floodwaters on roadways during both perigean spring tide events were limited, but all samples exceeded the threshold for safe public use of recreational waters. These results indicate that inundation of stormwater networks by tides could pose public health hazards in receiving water bodies and on roadways, which will likely be exacerbated in the future due to continued SLR.

Bedforms and sediment dynamics under reduced sediment input and estuarine engineering: the case of the Bou Regreg estuary, Morocco

The Bou Regreg riverine estuary constitutes a microtidal environment located within an urban region and characterized by limited sediment inflow from its catch basin hinterlands. The construction of the Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah (SMBA) dam has notably diminished sediment supply, especially coarser fractions. In light of these conditions, this study aimed to classify sediment types according to the Folk and Ward classification, stratify morphometric parameters and temporal fluctuations based on dune types, and ultimately evaluate the sediment dynamics driving observed bedform variations. Using an integrated approach, data collection involved various techniques, including CTD profiling, bottom videography, side-scan sonar imaging, sub-bottom profiling, and Van Veen bottom grab sampling. The bed morphology includes segments of smooth bed, erosional and dredged bottom, localized scour features, and submarine dune fields, displaying notable heterogeneity. Acoustic seabed reflections indicated two bedform clusters with maximum lengths of 42.6 m and heights of 1 m. Flow velocities were linked to the presence of 2D and 3D dune forms. Morphological variations encompassed straight, sinuous, and barchan dune configurations, mainly asymmetric with NNW–SSE seaward orientation. Sediment mean size fluctuations spanned from muddy to medium sand deposition. The findings revealed the intricate interplay of dynamics shaping dune field configurations and the heterogeneous dispersion of bedforms throughout the estuary likely due to a sharp decline of sediment discharge caused by the dam upstream and coastal engineering. The study emphasizes the dynamic nature of dunes, highlighting their sensitivity to shifting hydrodynamic conditions and sediment availability, leading to morphological fluctuations over time.

Effect of Antimicrobial Use in Conventional Versus Natural Cattle Feedlots on the Microbiome and Resistome.

Antimicrobial use (AMU) in the livestock industry has been associated with increased levels of antimicrobial resistance. Recently, there has been an increase in the number of "natural" feedlots in the beef cattle sector that raise cattle without antibiotics. Shotgun metagenomics was employed to characterize the impact of AMU in feedlot cattle on the microbiome, resistome, and mobilome. Sequenced fecal samples identified a decline (q < 0.01) in the genera Methanobrevibacter and Treponema in the microbiome of naturally vs. conventionally raised feedlot cattle, but this difference was not (q > 0.05) observed in catch basin samples. No differences (q > 0.05) were found in the class-level resistome between feedlot practices. In fecal samples, decreases from conventional to natural (q < 0.05) were noted in reads for the antimicrobial-resistant genes (ARGs) mefA, tet40, tetO, tetQ, and tetW. Plasmid-associated ARGs were more common in feces from conventional than natural feedlot cattle. Interestingly, more chromosomal- than plasmid-associated macrolide resistance genes were observed in both natural and conventional feedlots, suggesting that they were more stably conserved than the predominately plasmid-associated tetracycline resistance genes. This study suggests that generationally selected resistomes through decades of AMU persist even after AMU ceases in natural production systems.

Efficacy of biological larvicide VectoMax® FG against Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens under field conditions in urban catch basins

Abstract The invasive Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus appeared in southern Switzerland in 2003 and is currently well established in most of its urban regions. In public areas, the control measures against the mosquito focus on its aquatic phase with removal of breeding sites and applications of larvicides at sites that cannot be eliminated. Larvicidal products are applied mainly to catch basins, one of the major sites of oviposition for both Ae. albopictus and Culex pipiens in urban areas. We evaluated the efficacy of a larvicidal formulation (i.e. VectoMax® FG), combing the action of spore-forming bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis and Lysinibacillus sphaericus, against Ae. albopictus, Cx. pipiens and non-target organisms present in urban catch basins. We used floating adult emergence traps to compare the number of adults emerging from 38 catch basins treated once during the study period with ten untreated (control) catch basins. The catch basins were monitored for 21 weeks and the efficacy was evaluated fitting a Generalised Additive Mixed Model (GAMM). The efficacy of the treatment varied among species. It was high against Cx. pipiens (100% reduction in emerging adults at maximal efficacy) and lower against Ae. albopictus (60% reduction). This suggests that it is important to examine target species separately when evaluating the efficacy of larvicidal products. The product showed a long residual larvicidal activity with the number of emerging adults still being reduced by 75% for Cx. pipiens and 60% for Ae. albopictus at ten weeks after the treatment. We also observed that the maximal efficacy of the product was reached about two weeks after the treatment. The effect on non-target organisms, specifically, chironomids, was also strong (80% reduction). However, their numbers raised again rather quickly (i.e. after two weeks), and the effect vanished around week 11.

Distribution of pyrethroid insecticides in urban storm drain structures: Catch basins, open channels, and outfalls

Surface water runoff can transport contaminants offsite to downstream aquatic ecosystems. The prevalence of impervious surfaces in urban areas enhances surface runoff and contributes to contamination of urban surface streams. Urban areas have complex drainage systems for the conveyance of drainage water, however, there is a dearth of information on the distribution of contaminants within storm drain system structures. Pyrethroid insecticides are among the most used insecticides in urban areas, and trace levels of pyrethroids are known to exert toxicity to aquatic invertebrates. To investigate pyrethroid occurrence and distribution throughout an urban drainage system, samples of water, sediment, algae, and biofilm were collected from catch basins, open channels, and outfalls in Los Angeles County, California, during the dry season. From 3 catch basins, 7 open channels, and 7 outfalls, a total of 28 water samples, 4 sediment samples, 8 algae samples, and 4 biofilm samples were collected and analyzed. Pyrethroid concentrations above the reporting limit were detected in 89% of water samples and all sediment, algae, and biofilm samples, with bifenthrin and cyfluthrin being the most frequently detected compounds. The median total pyrethroid concentrations in water, sediments, algae, and biofilms were 27 ng/L, 88 ng/g, 356 ng/g, and 3556 ng/g, respectively. Bifenthrin concentrations in catch basins were found to be significantly higher than those in open channels or outfalls. Significant correlations were found for various metrics, including between pyrethroid partitioning in water samples and total suspended solids. These findings highlight the role of underground catch basins as a sink as well as a secondary source for contaminants such as pyrethroid insecticides. Prevention of the input of these urban originated contaminants to catch basins is crucial for protecting the water quality of urban surface waters.

Evaluation of metagenomic assembly methods for the detection and characterization of antimicrobial resistance determinants and associated mobilizable elements

Antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) can be transferred between members of a bacterial population by mobile genetic elements (MGE). Understanding the risk of these transfer events is important in monitoring and predicting antimicrobial resistance (AMR), especially in the context of a One Health Continuum. However, there is no universally accepted method for detection of ARGs and MGEs, and especially for determining their linkages. This study used publicly available shotgun metagenomic DNA short-read (Illumina, 100 bp paired-end) sequence data from samples across the One Health Continuum (including beef cattle composite feces from feedlots, catch basin water at feedlots, agricultural soil from feedlot manured surrounding fields, and urban/municipal sewage influent from two municipal wastewater treatment plants) to develop a workflow to identify and associate ARGs and MGEs. ARG- and MGE-based targeted-assemblies with available short-read data were unable to meet this analysis goal. In contrast, de novo assembly of contigs provided enough sequence context to associate ARGs and MGEs, without compromising discovery rate. However, to estimate the relative abundance of these elements, unassembled sequence data must still be used.

Comparative Activity And Efficacy of Sumilarv 0.5G and Altosid Xr Briquet Against Culex Quinquefasciatus and Aedes Aegypti in Simulated Catch Basins.

Mosquito control plays a crucial role in the mitigation of mosquito-borne diseases. Larviciding that targets one of the aquatic stages is among the routine practices in mosquito control operations. One of the most extensive and challenging mosquito production sources in urban environments is underground storm drain systems. Along with the research and development of biorational larvicides in recent decades, numerous products based on microbial and insect growth regulators have become available. However, the performance of these products often varies because of product design and challenges associated with urban storm drain systems. This paper validates the comparative bioactivity and semifield efficacy of 2 control release products based on pyriproxyfen and S-methoprene. In laboratory bioassays, pyriproxyfen was significantly more active than S-methoprene against the test species, Culex quinquefasciatus Say and Aedes aegypti (L.). Culex quinquefasciatus was less susceptible than Ae. aegypti to both test materials. During a 26-wk-long semifield evaluation using the cast concrete simulated catch basins, the inhibition of emergence pretreatment and posttreatment in untreated control was negligible. The Sumilarv 0.5G applied at 75 g per catch basin provided 100% IE, whereas the Altosid XR briquet applied at 1 per catch basin yielded only partial control fluctuating from 12.7% to 82.7% (average 40.7%) of Cx. quinquefasciatus and 8.0% to 78.8% (average 37.4%) of Ae. aegypti. The Altosid XR briquet had an average residual weight of 59.9% at the end of semifield evaluation. Results are discussed in relation to field mosquito control operations in urban storm drain systems.

The New Orleans Adopt-A-Catch Basin Program and Citizen Involvement

The New Orleans Adopt-A-Catch Basin Program is the city’s first experiment that puts democratic concepts into practice concerning water management. The program as codified in city ordinance Section 66–287 requires adoptive citizens to be responsible for maintaining the catch basin and the area extending 18 inches off the curb line. This paper examines the adoption of co-production of services between the city and its citizens and analyzes how efficient the program has been in solving the city’s perennial challenges of street flooding. The researchers collated data through surveys issued to stakeholders. Data obtained was analyzed using specific themes to create narratives that answer the questions of the study. The study identified that the primary issues affecting the New Orleans Adopt-A-Catch Basin Program includes ineffective communication, recruitment, risks, liability, and distrust of government. A well-planned program would create better synergy between government and the people, while achieving the program’s objectives.

Curbing sediment: The effects of added surface roughness in the curb and gutter as a novel pretreatment for green infrastructure stormwater control measures

Stormwater control measures (SCMs) are employed to reduce the multitude of deleterious impacts of urban runoff on receiving waters. Sediment accumulation in infiltration-based SCMs can clog these systems, resulting in lack of hydraulic function and reduced stormwater treatment efficacy. As such, pretreatment devices, such as forebays, filter strips, or catch basin sumps, are typically employed upstream of SCMs to remove sediment and prolong maintenance intervals. However, the tendency of SCMs to be retrofitted into space-constrained, ultra-urban areas makes including pretreatment technologies difficult. An alternative pretreatment device for green infrastructure SCMs was developed and tested in the laboratory; alterations were made to the standard curb and gutter, which is ubiquitous within urban environments, to increase the roughness of these surfaces. Roughness was added to the curb and/or gutter of mock road sections constructed of expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam using a computer numerical control (CNC) router. Twenty-one patterns with varying degrees of depth, shape, and spacing were implemented to trap sediment from simulated runoff; samples were collected upstream and downstream of the added roughness and analyzed for sediment removal and particle capture. Patterns which included added roughness in both the curb and gutter reduced total suspended solids (TSS) concentrations by up to 95% (median 85%) and reduced median d50 and d90 in runoff from 46.9 to 39.4 μm and 322 to 100 μm, respectively. Continued TSS removal was observed during repeated testing designed to simulate up to seven runoff events, indicating the potential for sustained sediment accumulation before the need for maintenance via regular street sweeping. With routine maintenance performed at appropriate intervals, these findings indicate that added roughness to curb and gutters could be utilized as a viable pretreatment technology for green infrastructure SCMs.

Optimal Preventive Maintenance, Repair, and Replacement Program for Catch Basins to Reduce Urban Flooding: Integrating Agent-Based Modeling and Monte Carlo Simulation

Urban sprawl has resulted in great losses of vegetation areas, an increase in impervious surfaces, and consequently the direct flow of stormwater into stream channels (i.e., the immediate flow of stormwater into stream channels, in comparison to the indirect flow that is represented by practices aiming to retain stormwater for a certain period of time and treat the polluted stormwater prior to flowing into the stream channels such as detention/retention basins, among others). Stormwater management systems such as catch basins (CBs) are needed to reduce the effect of stormwater runoff. Preventative maintenance, repair, and replacement of CBs are critical to achieve stormwater management best practices. Those practices prevent the blockage of the stormwater system, limit the pollutants in storm sewers, and reduce the risk of flooding. However, no preceding research studies have been conducted to model and simulate the serviceability of CBs and to determine optimal strategies for operating CBs. To that extent, this study establishes a framework to develop and validate an optimal and adaptive maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) strategy for CBs. In relation to that, an agent-based model (ABM) integrated with Monte Carlo simulation was developed for all 560 CBs in New York City’s District 5 and was statistically validated using 99% confidence intervals. The MRO parameters were optimized to minimize the total cost of the system and attain the desired level of serviceability of CBs. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to guide the maintenance planning process of CBs and reveal the effect of the input parameters on the model’s behavior. In addition, ten thousand Monte Carlo iterations were simulated to derive the distributions of the defined parameters. The results proved that in order to minimize the overall cost of repair, maintenance, and replacement of CBs and attain a minimum serviceability threshold of 80%, the following optimal MRO policy needs to be implemented: having seven service crews (where service crews are human resources (i.e., MRO teams) needed to perform the required maintenance, repair, and replacement work), implementing a replacing policy, and replacing CBs after five maintenance periods. The findings revealed that the service crews represent the most critical parameter in affecting the total cost and serviceability of CBs. This research contributes to the existing literature by offering a better knowledge of the management process of CBs and devising optimal MRO strategies for properly operating them. Ultimately, this research helps decision-makers and engineers increase the lifespan of CBs and limit their risks of breakdown, increase their efficiency, and avoid unnecessary costs. The proposed model is flexible and can be implemented to any geographical area and with other model/system parameters, which makes it adaptive for any scenario and area presented by the user. Finally, maintaining stormwater management practices helps in protecting the environment by decreasing the demand on stormwater systems, reducing flooding, protecting people and properties, promoting healthier rivers, and consequently creating more sustainable communities.

Risk assessment of chemical release accident triggered by landslide using Bayesian network

This study evaluated the risk of 461,260,800 scenarios of chemical release accidents triggered by landslides. Several industrial accidents triggered by landslides have recently occurred in Japan; however, only a few studies have analyzed the impact of landslide-triggered chemical release accidents on the surrounding areas. Bayesian networks (BNs) have recently been used in the risk assessment of natural hazardtriggered technological accidents (Natech) to quantify uncertainties and develop methods applicable to multiple scenarios. However, the scope of BN-based quantitative risk assessment is limited to the risk assessment of explosions triggered by earthquakes and lightning. We aimed to extend the BN-based risk analysis methodology and evaluate the risk and the effectiveness of the countermeasures for specific facility. A methodology was developed to assess human health risk in the surrounding areas when n-hexane was released and dispersed into the atmosphere due to a landslide. Risk assessment results showed that the societal risk (representing the relationship between frequency and number of people suffering from a particular harm) of the storage tank closest to the slope exceeded the Netherlands' criteria, which are the safest among the criteria in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Denmark, and the Netherlands. Limiting the storage rate reduced the probability of one or more fatalities by up to about 40% compared with the no countermeasure case and was a more effective countermeasure than using oil fences and absorbents. Diagnostic analyses quantitatively showed that the distance between the tank and slope was the main contributing factor. The catch basin parameter contributed to the reduction in the variance of the results compared to the storage rate. This finding indicated that physical measures, such as strengthening or deepening the catch basin, are essential for risk reduction. Our methods can be applied to other natural disasters for multiple scenarios by combining it with other models.

Abundance and composition of anthropogenic macrolitter and natural debris in road runoff in Ohio, USA

Urban stormwater conveys dissolved pollutants, micropollutants, particulate matter, natural debris, and anthropogenic macrodebris to receiving waters. Though it is widely recognized that anthropogenic macrodebris mobilized by stormwater contributes to global pollution management issues (e.g., ocean garbage patches), these materials often are not the focus of stormwater sampling campaigns. Furthermore, macrodebris can cause clogging of sewer systems, exacerbating flooding and public health hazards. Due to their engineered structures draining directly connected impervious areas (e.g., catch basins, inlets, and pipes), roads present a unique opportunity to mitigate the conveyance of macrodebris in stormwater. To optimize control measures, data are needed to understand expected volume and mass of macrodebris in road runoff. To address this gap in knowledge, a field monitoring study was conducted in Ohio (USA) to quantify the mass, volume, and moisture content of macrodebris transported by road runoff. Designed to filter macrodebris (i.e., material with diameter greater than 5 mm) while maintaining drainage, purpose-built inserts were deployed in catch basins at eleven geographically diverse locations across the state. Macrodebris samples were collected from the inserts every 11.6 days (mean) over a two-year monitoring period. Volume and mass of total and categorical (i.e., vegetation, cigarettes, plastic, glass, metal, wood, fabric, gravel, and paper) debris were characterized. Mean total macrodebris volume and mass were 4.62 L and 0.49 kg per sampling window, corresponding to mean volumetric and mass loading rates of 8.56 L/ha/day and 0.79 kg/ha/day, respectively. Natural debris (e.g., vegetation) was the primary contributor to macrodebris (mean 80.3% (i.e., 3.94 L of the mean 4.66 L total sample volume) and 79.7% (i.e., 0.42 kg of the mean 0.53 kg total sample mass) of total volume and mass, respectively), and exhibited seasonal peaks in autumn due to leaf drop. Road functional class (i.e., interstate, principal arterial, and minor arterial routes), land use, and development density significantly impacted macrodebris generation, with increased total and categorical macrodebris along urbanized interstate highways near commercial and residential areas. Macrodebris moisture content was highly variable (ranging from 1.5 to 440%; mean 78.5%), indicating additional management (e.g., drying, solidification) may be required prior to landfilling. Results of this study inform macrodebris mitigation strategies and required maintenance frequencies for pre-treatment devices for other stormwater control measures treating road runoff, including catch basin inserts and hydrodynamic separators, among others.

Mobile Devices in Microdrainage Systems in the City of Recife-PE

The catch basins have paramount importance for an urban drainage system, since its main functionality is to capture and control the volume of transported water from the ground to the existing network, until its arrival in rivers and seas. With disorderly urbanization, the volume of produced garbage grows and drainage systems are impaired. In this way, the present work presents some devices created and implanted in the microdrainage group in the city of Recife. Three eco-basket models were installed inside the collection boxes. The initial version, made of cast iron, did not present a good viability due to its mass, with approximately 30 kg. A second HDPE version was then created, showing positive results, however interactions with some external agents (mainly rodents) reduced its useful life. Finally, the third model was built in fiberglass, meeting expectations satisfactorily. The results obtained proved to be convincing, since that after the implantation of a minimum amount of devices, more than a ton of debris were removed, which would obstruct the microdrainage system, and thus, would potentiate the effects of flooding, still associated with diseases of water transmission and the pollution of urban waters.

West Nile Virus diffusion in temperate regions and climate change. A systematic review.

West Nile virus (WNV) is a member of the Japanese encephalitis serocomplex, which was first described in 1937 as neurotropic virus in Uganda in 1937. Subsequently, WNV was identified in the rest of the old-world and from 1999 in North America. Birds are the primary hosts, and WNV is maintained in a bird-mosquito-bird cycle, with pigs as amplifying hosts and humans and horses as incidental hosts. WNV transmission is warranted by mosquitoes, usually of the Culex spp., with a tendency to spill over when mosquitoes' populations build up. Other types of transmissions have been described in endemic areas, as trough transplanted organs and transfused blood, placenta, maternal milk, and in some occupational settings. WNV infections in North America and Europe are generally reported during the summer and autumn. Extreme climate phenomena and soil degradation are important events which contribute to expansion of mosquito population and consequently to the increasing number of infections. Draught plays a pivotal role as it makes foul water standing in city drains and catch basins richer of organic material. The relationship between global warming and WNV in climate areas is depicted by investigations on 16,298 WNV cases observed in the United States during the period 2001-2005 that showed that a 5°C increase in mean maximum weekly temperature was associated with a 32-50% higher incidence of WNV infection. In Europe, during the 2022 season, an increase of WNV cases was observed in Mediterranean countries where 1,041 cases were reported based on ECDC data. This outbreak can be associated to the climate characteristics reported during this period and to the introduction of a new WNV-1 lineage. In conclusion, current climate change is causing an increase of mosquito circulation that supports the widest spread of some vector-borne virus including WNV diffusion in previously non-permissible areas. This warrant public health measures to control vectors circulation to reduce WNV and to screen blood and organ donations.

Carbon Dioxide and Methane Distribution in Peat Deposits of an Oligotrophic Forest Swamp in Western Siberia and Their Emission

Swamps and wetlands of forested areas, as well as the non-forest swamps are jointly involved in the global carbon cycle. They play an important role in depositing the greenhouse gases. This article analyses the long-term dynamics of the greenhouse gases (CO2 and CH4) concentration in a peat deposit and their emission in a natural and reclaimed oligotrophic bog in the southern taiga zone of Western Siberia. It was found that a significant role in the CO2 and CH4 concentration dynamics in the peat deposits belongs to the weather conditions of each month of the warm period, the botanical composition and the activity of biochemical processes, as well as the structure and physical and mechanical properties of a peat deposit. Also identified were the intra-deposit, spatial and temporal dynamics of the greenhouse gases concentrations’ indicators. It has been proven that there are multicomponent dependences of CO2 and CH4 concentrations on the parameters of external and intra-deposit conditions. The concentrations’ parameters in the oligotrophic bog’s peat deposit from the swampy catch basin of the Klyuch river were determined as follows: extreme concentrations of CO2 were 0.002–3.64 mmol/dm3, extreme concentrations of CH4 were 0.003–2.03 mmol/dm3; the CO2 normalised fluxes varied from /–22.2/ to 157.8 mg C/(m2 · h), the CH4 normalised fluxes’ extreme values were equal /–3.0/–5.3 mg C/(m2 · h), the CO2 fluxes for the warm period were 20–110 g C/(m2 · year), the CH4 fluxes for the warm period were 0.8–3.7 C/(m2 · year). At the forest reclamation site, a slight increase in the CO2 normalised fluxes activity was revealed compared to a natural swamp, while the greenhouse gases’ concentrations in the peat deposit were found to be comparable in both cases. It was shown that in the absence of an operating drainage system, the process of re-bogging occurs. Due to the vast areas of the West Siberian Plain’s swamps and the aggressive nature of the bogging process, moderate and selective forest reclamation is suggested for its taiga zone.

Evaluation on the Activity and Efficacy of Omniprene™ WSP and XWSP Against the Southern House Mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus in Simulated Catch Basins.

Mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases remain one of the major public health burdens. In most cases, vector control is the main or the only intervention to mitigate these problems. We are facing the challenges of traditional, emerging, or resurging vectors and diseases, yet the availability and affordability of safe and effective mosquito control products are at a historical low. Development of new active ingredients (AI) and novel formulations based on currently available AI are demanded by mosquito control operations. This paper validated the bioactivity in the laboratory and evaluated the semi-field efficacy for 2 newly registered controlled-release products based on juvenile hormone analog S-methoprene: OmniPrene™ water-soluble pouch (WSP) and extended water-soluble pouch (XWSP). Along with technical S-methoprene, these 2 formulations showed high inhibition of adult emergence in laboratory bioassays against Aedes aegypti, Ae. albopictus, and Culex quinquefasciatus that are commonly found in catch basins. High initial and long-term residual efficacy were demonstrated in simulated catch basins against Cx. quinquefasciatus, where the OmniPrene WSP consistently provided over 90% control for 15 wk (105 days) and OmniPrene XWSP did the same for 38 wk (266 days). Considering the need for reliable mosquito control products, combined with commonly encountered product performance issues in catch basins, OmniPrene WSP and XWSP can be viable tools to combat mosquito species of public health concern that are associated with urban drainage systems.

Phosphorus and Heavy Metals Removal from Stormwater Runoff Using Granulated Industrial Waste for Retrofitting Catch Basins.

Phosphorus and heavy metals are washed off and transported with stormwater runoff to nearby surface water bodies resulting in environmental and human health risks. Catch basins remain one of the primary gateways through which stormwater runoff and pollutants from urban areas are transported. Retrofitting catch basins to enhance their phosphorus and heavy metal removal can be an effective approach. In this study, aluminum-based water treatment residual (WTR, a non-hazardous byproduct of the water treatment process) was granulated via a green method to serve as a sustainable filter material, called WTR granules, for enhancing the capabilities of catch basins to remove phosphorus and heavy metals. The WTR granules were field tested in a parking lot in Hoboken, New Jersey. Twelve storm events were monitored. The results showed that the WTR granules significantly (p &lt; 0.05) reduced dissolved P, Cu, and Zn, as well as total P, Cu, Pb, and Zn concentrations in stormwater runoff without signs of disintegration. No flooding or water ponding was observed during the implementation. Results suggest the WTR granules are an inexpensive, green filter material that can be used for retrofitting catch basins to remove phosphorus and heavy metals effectively.