What can be done when neighbors breed mosquitoes on their property?

I live in a place where there have been problems with mosquitoes in the past during the warm weather season. Besides being a nuisance, an annoyance (e.g. disturbing regular life and sleep), these creatures can also carry dangerous diseases, R"L. One of the main defenses against them is to make sure there is no stagnant water standing around, as if it stays that way for a few days mosquitoes can breed in it. Therefore public health officials recommend vigilance and action against that, by doing things such as making drainage holes in containers, turning them upside down, or emptying those that already have water in them. This is even so for very small containers, but kal vachomer for large ones, such as garbage cans. I have been vigilant about this on my own property, but the problem is, that there are at times neighbors, even allegedly "frum" ones, who are not. Since mosquitoes, once hatched, don't respect property lines, I am therefore threatened by these neighbors being careless or lackadaisical about this serious health hazard and threat. The question is, may I go on their property and empty such containers, whether due to protecting the people in the area, זכין לאדם שלא בפניו, or some other lomdus, לתועלת ולהצלת הציבור. I have been told that one of the culprits thinks that they are saving the rainwater for their garden, however, in such a case, experts teach that the water needs to be covered, or otherwise watched or treated so mosquitoes don't breed in it and they are not doing so. In a way they are rodfim, as mosquitoes can carry serious disease, e.g. West Nile Virus R"L. Please let me know what I can do to address this danger, esp. if neighbors are not cooperative and don't treat it as the serious matter that it is.

Shalom!

Thank you for your question.

We recommend first approaching the neighbors and explaining to them the importance of their co-operation in preventing mosquitos and the problems associated with them.

According to Halacha, what you may do is report it to the council so that they can take care of it.