What Should You Do in Your Yard After It Rains?
After rain, empty standing water that day and walk the yard again a few days later. Where water hides, and what to report to the District.
After it rains, walk your yard that day and empty anything holding water. Then walk it again three or four days later, because some water hides and some spots refill. Turn containers over so the next storm cannot fill them, and report water you cannot empty to the District.
Why do you see mosquitoes after rain?
Standing water is where mosquitoes breed, and rain fills things that have been dry for months. Under the right conditions, the CDC says an Aedes mosquito can go from egg to adult in about 7 to 10 days. That is why the time to empty standing water is as soon as you see it.
The District itself began with rain. In January 1927, floodwater from the Compton slough, now the Compton Creek Flood Control Channel, covered parts of Compton. Mosquitoes followed. Residents asked for relief, and that year Compton formed a mosquito abatement district. The District is approaching 100 years of service.
How do I get rid of standing water in my yard after rain?
Start the day it rains:
- Walk the whole yard, including the side yard and behind the garage.
- Empty anything holding water: buckets, bin lids, plant saucers, toys, the wheelbarrow.
- Turn containers upside down, or move them under cover.
- Pull tarps and covers tight so they cannot sag into a bowl.
Why check again a few days later?
The second walk is in addition to emptying on the day, never in place of it. It catches water you missed the first time and spots that refilled from runoff. Whatever is still holding water then is where mosquitoes can grow. Low spots that hold water once will fill again all winter, so note where they are.
Where does water hide after rain?
| Where to look | What to do |
|---|---|
| Recycling and trash bin lids | Tip out the water. Close lids so they shed rain. |
| Tarps, grill and furniture covers | Pull them tight. Tip out any pooled water. |
| Plant saucers and pots | Empty them, then scrub the inside where the waterline was. |
| Rain gutters | Clear leaves so water drains. |
| Rain barrels | Keep them sealed or screened. |
| Tires, toys, wheelbarrows | Empty and flip them, or store them under cover. |
| Low spots in the lawn or driveway | Sweep or drain them. Report the ones you cannot fix. |
What about water I can't empty?
For nearly a century, the District has worked alongside residents here. After a storm, standing water is where that work starts, in your yard and ours.
Some water is not yours to empty: a storm drain, a catch basin, a neglected pool next door. The District can inspect these spots and treat the water. Fixing a broken drain or a neighbor's pool is up to whoever owns it. According to the District, one algae-filled pool can produce up to 3 million mosquitoes a month.
The District treats water that cannot be drained, follows up on reports of neglected pools, and offers free mosquitofish for ponds and unmaintained pools. Request service online or call (310) 933-5321.
Will this winter be wet?
The NOAA Climate Prediction Center said on October 8, 2026, that a strong to very strong El Niño is likely through January to March 2027. El Niño raises the odds of a wetter Southern California winter, and the outcome is never guaranteed. Either way, the plan is the same: after it rains, walk the yard.
Water you cannot empty?
Frequently asked questions
How long after rain do mosquitoes come out?
Under the right conditions, the CDC says an Aedes mosquito can go from egg to adult in about 7 to 10 days. Empty standing water as soon as you see it, then check again a few days later.
Is it OK to leave rainwater sitting for a day or two?
Empty it as soon as you see it. The second walk a few days later catches water you missed, and it does not replace emptying on the day.
Do rain barrels breed mosquitoes?
They can if mosquitoes get in. Keep rain barrels sealed or screened.
Who do I call about a neglected pool or a catch basin?
The Compton Creek Mosquito Abatement District. Request service at comptoncreekmad.org or call (310) 933-5321.
About the District
The Compton Creek Mosquito Abatement District is an independent special district formed by Compton residents in 1927, serving Compton, North Long Beach and the unincorporated communities around them. Its services to residents are free: request service online or call (310) 933-5321.