Unreliable supply of potable water and elevated Aedes aegypti larval indices: a causal relationship?

Abstract

We investigated the hypothesis that a deficient supply of piped water was causing a high prevalence of water storage containers, which in turn, become important aquatic habitats of Aedes aegypti in a small town in Venezuela. The House (71.2%) and Breteau indices (229) were considerably elevated. Prevalent positive containers were: metal drums, small disposable containers (bottles, tins, etc.), tires, house plants (flowers in vases and plants in pots with earth) and tanks. Most people reported frequent interruptions in the supply of piped water and considered it to be unreliable. The frequency of interruptions in the supply of water was positively correlated with the House and Container indices, and with the number of positive containers, water-storage devices and positive water-storage devices per house. Even people who considered that they had an adequate supply of water kept numerous water storage containers. Most people (60%) said they would not stop storing water even in the event of the establishment of a reliable supply of piped water.