With daily triple-digit temperatures and increased water demand ahead, the month of May calls for homeowners to inspect irrigation systems for breaks and leaks. A simple walk through of your landscape can help you spot instances that will increase your water bill:
- A broken sprinkler head can waste 25,000 gallons of water in six months.
- An irrigation system with a leak as small as the tip of a pen can waste over 6,300 gallons of water per month.
Repairs can save thousands of gallons of water and hundreds of dollars in cost. To keep your system in tip-top shape, here are some issues to look for and fix.
Leaks: At irrigation valves, connection points, joints, sprinkler heads, drip irrigation lines.
Broken or Missing Sprinklers, Drippers: While the system is running, look for sprinklers that do not pop up, drip lines that
have been cut or moved out of place, small geysers.
Poor Sprinkler Coverage: Spray from one sprinkler should reach the adjacent one.
Sprinklers Incorrectly Aimed: Look for sprinklers that over-spray or spray water onto areas outside the landscape.
Bad Dripper Spacing: Look for drippers that are on bare soil or not right next to plants.
Over-Watering: Check for pooling water or runoff after irrigation.
Dry or Dormant Plants: Feel plants, or grass to see if they are dry or brittle.
Runoff: If a plant’s water requirement is met but you see runoff, break up the irrigation into smaller intervals to allow the water to seep into the soil.
Irrigation Schedule is Not Seasonally Adjusted: If you use a timer, follow a seasonal schedule. If you use a weather-based controller, it should be set to the weather-based mode. Irrigation controllers use local weather data to automatically adjust your irrigation schedule.
For eligible customers, Coachella Valley Water District will install and program a free smart irrigation controller that reduces the amount of water used in cooler months and increases the amount in the summer. Information: www.cvwd.org/conservation.
For more advice on sprucing up your sprinkler, visit this site: www.epa.gov/watersense
