Residents of a community in Dubai say construction works in the area have caused an infestation of bugs on their balconies.
Tenants and flat owners in Canal Residence West, a residential complex in Dubai Sports City, said stagnant water in an under-construction manmade canal nearby has attracted swarms of mosquitoes and flies.
The canal, which sits alongside a promenade parallel to the buildings, was filled with water several months ago.
Since then, residents say they have been dealing with constant bug infestations and have been forced to carry out regular pest control in their homes, which they said is costly, inconvenient and unsafe.
"We have a balcony overlooking the canal," Enass Abdelbaset, told The National.
“If you sit outside you’re more than likely to get eaten alive by the bugs than relax,” she said.
Ms Abdelbaset has lived in the complex for five years and said the issue only started when the canal was filled with water earlier this year.
“It’s becoming an annoying daily routine having to spray the house with pest control products from the supermarket.
“I have a baby and we have to leave the house every time we do it because it’s not safe what with all the chemicals in the air,” she said.
She said the water had an "unpleasant smell and looked unsightly”, with dirt and mud visible on the bed of the canal.
In a statement to The National, Sports City Owners Association Management Services, a company that manages the building complex and its wider community, said it carried out regular maintenance on the canal.
"Our appointed service providers regularly maintain the quality of all public areas including the landscaping in and around the canal promenade," a spokesperson said.
"Ongoing inspections ensure the water is not stagnant [in the canal] and the filtration system is fully operational without any issues."
On August 28, SOAMS carried out pest control treatment in the common areas of the master community.
In a circular issued to residents, it said façade lights would remain switched off during the scheduled fogging treatment "to prevent the gathering of flying pests towards the apartment balconies".
Fogging is a technique used by pest control companies to kill insects quickly, in both domestic and commercial buildings. A pesticide spray is pumped out via a blowing machine that creates a fog-like effect.
Since then, SOAMS said it has not registered any pest related complaints by residents.
However, another resident, who asked not to be named, said the bugs have returned.
“The bugs constantly swarm my balcony door and the problem is even more prevalent for apartments on the lower level floors," he said.
He has lived in the area for five months and said the fogging treatment worked only temporarily.
"The water needs to be drained from the canal or at the very least, cleaned."
