Murky Water, Hidden Hazards: Why You Should Report Stagnant Pools

Published on June 11, 2026

By the Office of Communication

When maintenance is ignored, it doesn't take long for a backyard swimming pool to become a neighborhood hazard. Green, standing water is more than just an eyesore—it introduces two major risks to our community's health and safety:

• Mosquito Breeding Grounds: Mosquitoes only need a tiny amount of standing water to lay eggs, but an unchlorinated, unmaintained pool can breed millions of them. This increases the risk of mosquito-borne illnesses like West Nile Virus right in your neighborhood.
• Hidden Drowning Hazards: If a child or pet accidentally falls into murky water, they cannot be seen from the surface, severely delaying critical, life-saving rescue efforts.

How to Report a Green or Stagnant Pool in Arlington

If a pool in your neighborhood has been abandoned or left to stagnate, you can report it to the City of Arlington anonymously. Code Compliance will investigate and work to ensure the owner resolves the issue.

You can submit a report using any of these quick methods:

• By Phone: Call the City of Arlington Action Center hotline at 817-459-6777 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• By App: Download the Ask Arlington app on your smartphone to submit a report, upload photos, and track the progress of the issue.
• Online: Make a report through the City of Arlington's website. Click on the Requests button at the bottom of the page. You can create an account if you want to track the status of your request or you can choose to create a report anonymously. Under select a report type, you can type the words "stagnant water" in the search bar or click on Neighborhood Concerns.

Property owners who fail to maintain a clean property, which includes a swimming pool, can face a fine up to $2,000 per citation for each day they are in violation. In some situations, the City may abate the nuisance and bill the property owner for the cost of the cleanup.