Designing a Custom Mosquito Misting System

Scenario: A B&B resort in Central Florida consults with us to prepare the specifications for a custom mosquito misting system to be installed on their estate. The following document is not a final proposal, but a solid draft of what their system would look like if we would build it. It is important to understand what every custom mosquito misting system we build is designed, engineered, and installed specifically for a property; these specifications would not necessarily apply to another other system on another property.

Custom mosquito misting system project scope

A B&B resort wants to build a custom mosquito misting system covering the main parts of their property, in order to protect guests from mosquitoes during the high season of activity. The property has a large exposure to mosquito populations due to its location.

• Geography & topography: The property is situated on a 4 acres of flat land in a rural area, in Central Florida. Elevation is sea level. It is served by municipal water supply. The property is enclosed on 3 sides with low Juniper trees. On its back side, it borders a lake to which it has full access with 2 stationary docks. The main body of the property is relatively protected from the wind by the row of junipers; the back side is open, and more exposed to the wind coming from the lake.
• Buildings & walkways: The B&B resort consists in 1 small administrative office located near the street entrance, and 10 homes arranged in an S-shaped pattern alongside a central walkway built with flagstones and masonry. On each side of the walkway, low bushes and small flower beds have been planted every 4 to 8 feet. Each house is isolated from the others by a 4-foot hedgerow which gives it privacy. Each house also has a small patio build with flagstones, also protected from view by the same hedgerow. This patio is one of the favorite features of the property as guests can eat outdoors.
• Natural obstacles: The lake is 500 feet away from the housing unit located farthest from the entrance. The lake is surrounded by reeds, rocks and some local vegetation. It is a breeding ground for mosquitoes, which makes it difficult for guests to fish from the docks or play around the lake during summer. For the resort, this area should be one of the strongest advertising pulls, but guest reviews mention the mosquitoes and this plays against the popularity of the resort.
• Perimeter: The property is surrounded by a second walkway built inside its perimeter, alongside the junipers. This walkway is used by guests for their morning and evening jogging and walk. Here again, mosquitoes find a welcoming breeding ground around the trees and water puddles during the moonsoons, and bother guests during their stay.

Specifications of the custom mosquito misting system

The main concerns of the resort owners are:

• The custom mosquito misting system will protect all areas where guests can exercise or be stationary outdoors.
• The misting system (nozzles, pipes) must be concealed as much as possible from view.
• The misting system must be automated to mist at given times with no human intervention.
• The tank system containing the insecticide will be positioned near the administrative house located at the entrance of the property, and concealed.
• If there is a need for a second tank system near the lake, it also need to be concealed but kept easily serviceable.
• The resort grounds need to be planted with insect-repellent plants. The garden system must features plants and flowers that tolerate Florida weather, and use perennials that contribute to repelling insects. The planting areas will be (a) around each housing unit; (b) alongside the walkways; (c) in the open area around the lake. The central walkway, the perimeter walkway, and the areas around the housing units are irrigated with a sprinkler system. The area around the lake is not irrigated artificially: the nearby water provides the water needed for the future planted area. For this area, only plants, bushes and trees that can grow in these conditions can be selected.
• The system must use plant-based insecticide, no synthetic insecticide.
• The irrigation system currently installed on the grounds of the property is buried alongside the walkways and the housing units, to a depth of 3-4 inches. It features mini-sprinklers.

System design & installation

In this section, we detail the engineering of the custom mosquito misting system, and cover the step-by-step installation process.

1. Site survey and design: The first step will be a detailed site survey to map out the property and identify the optimal locations for the misting nozzles, the main and secondary tank systems, and the network of underground PVC pipes. The design will ensure that all areas where guests can walk or station are covered, including the housing units, the central and perimeter pathways, and the lake area.
2. Installation of the mosquito misting system: The misting system will consist of a network of 1/2″ Schedule 40 PVC pipes, which will be buried 6-12 inches underground to conceal them from view and avoid any confusion with the existing irrigation system (buried 3-4 feet). The pipes will be connected to a series of concealed misting nozzles, strategically placed to provide maximum coverage. The nozzles will be hidden among the bushes and flower beds, and will be positioned to cover the patios, walkways, and the area around the lake. The nozzles will be installed at a height of 10-12 inches above ground level to ensure effective misting.
3. Installation of the tank systems: The main tank system will be located near the administrative house. It will be a 55-gallon drum system, equipped with a high-pressure pump capable of delivering the insecticide to the entire network of pipes and nozzles. This tank will be concealed by constructing a decorative structure around it that blends with the surroundings, such as a faux-rock or a small garden shed. A second 55-gallon drum system will be installed near the lake to ensure adequate pressure and coverage in that area. This tank will be concealed in a similar manner, by incorporating it into the landscape with a faux rock structure or a small decorative gazebo.
4. Automation: The system will be automated with a programmable timer that can be set to mist at specified times. The timer will be housed in a weatherproof enclosure and will be connected to the pump systems of the main and secondary tanks. An automatic refill system could also be considered. This would involve connecting the tanks to the municipal water supply and adding a solenoid valve that opens when the tank level drops to a certain level. The valve would close again when the tank is full. This would ensure that the tanks are always full and ready for the misting cycles.
5. Fault Detection & Warning System:

• • Pressure Monitoring: A pressure monitoring system can be installed to continuously monitor the pressure in the misting system. A significant drop in pressure could indicate a leak in the system or a clogged nozzle. The pressure monitor could be connected to an alarm system to alert the resort staff if the pressure drops below a certain level.
  • Flow Meters: Flow meters can be installed at various points in the system to monitor the flow of the insecticide solution. If the flow rate at a particular point drops significantly, it could indicate a problem such as a clogged nozzle or a blockage in the pipe.
  • Visual Inspection: Regular visual inspections of the system can also help detect faults. This would involve checking the spray pattern of the nozzles and looking for signs of leaks in the system.
  • Tank Level Sensors: Tank level sensors will be installed in the main and secondary tanks to monitor the level of the insecticide solution. These sensors can be set to trigger an alarm when the tank level drops to a critically low level. The critical level could be set at 20% of the tank capacity, which would provide sufficient time for the tank to be refilled before it runs out.

Other aspects

Planting System: We will select a variety of insect-repellent plants suitable for the Florida climate, including: Citronella, Marigolds, Lavender, and Basil. These plants will be planted around each housing unit, alongside the walkways, and in the open area around the lake.

For the area around the lake, we select plants that can thrive in the existing conditions, such as Sweet Fern and Pitcher Plant.

Insecticide: A-NIKS only uses its proprietary plant-based insecticide effective against mosquitoes, and safe for humans and pets. This insecticide is also safe for non-target insects, such as bees and butterflies.

Misting Schedule: The custom mosquito misting system will be set to mist at least twice a day, early in the morning and in the evening when mosquitoes are most active. Additional misting times will be scheduled based on the resort’s occupancy rate and mosquito activity. Due to the exposure to the wind, the misting system would be divided in zones, with the lake area being misted more often during the day.

A-NIKS and your protection against mosquitoes in Florida

This case study is a good example of how we could approach building a custom mosquito misting system in a commercial framework. A-NIKS has been specializing in protecting families and businesses against the dangers and inconvenience of mosquitoes since 2004. We engineer, design and build all our systems, and developed new patented technology for fine misting nozzles. We also developed an all-natural plant-based insecticide which reduces harm to non-target insects, and is safe for pets and humans. A-NIKS is part of the Lyfe Outdoor Comfort group of companies, solutions for outdoor living.