Summertime is here, and warmer months sometimes mean higher water use. But it doesn’t have to mean wasteful water use. A quick look at your sprinkler system can help cut back on wasteful watering. This summer, spend some time checking your irrigation system to make sure you are watering efficiently.
Spruce up your sprinkler system with some tips from the Environmental Protection Agency WaterSense program:
- Check your sprinkler heads. Look out for broken, missing or clogged sprinkler heads. A broken or missing sprinkler could waste up to 25,000 gallons of water over a six-month period.
- Keep an eye out for large soggy areas. If you spot small pools of water in your landscape or soggy spots, there may be a leak in your system. Even the tiniest leak can waste a vast amount of water. According to WaterSense, a leak as small as the tip of a ballpoint pen can waste 6,300 gallons a month.
- Don’t water concrete. Driveways, sidewalks and houses don’t grow; redirect sprinklers so that they water only a landscape.
- Adjust the clock. If you have a programmed irrigation system, be sure it’s watering in the morning or late evening to avoid evaporation and further water waste.
Not sure about what you see or what it means? The Santa Clara Valley Water District can help! Our free Water Wise Outdoor Survey can help you evaluate the efficiency of your irrigation system. A trained irrigation professional will complete a comprehensive evaluation, and provide tips and recommendations for a better watering schedule and possible repairs or upgrades. You’ll get a detailed written report after the survey is complete.
Our Landscape Rebate Program can also help you replace old, inefficient irrigation equipment with new, qualifying high-efficiency equipment. Get rid of old sprinkler nozzles or convert existing pop-up sprinklers, and earn some money! Learn more about how you can reduce outside watering and possibly qualify for a rebate by visiting www.watersavings.org, or call the water district’s conservation hotline at 408-630-2554. Schedule a pre-inspection before you start your equipment upgrades to be eligible for the rebate.
For more information on how you can save water and available rebates, click here.
Valley Water News 