Managing Your Irrigation System Saves Money
Using water-efficient technologies can make a big difference in keeping your irrigation system running efficiently without a lot of effort on your part.
- Adjust your irrigation system often. Irrigation schedules should be adjusted based on seasonal changes. A WaterSense labeled irrigation controller uses weather or soil moisture data to determine when to water. For more tips on adjusting your irrigation controller schedule, read our Irrigation Controller Brochure (4 pp, 1334 K, About PDF). Don’t forget about PWC’s Rain Sensor Incentive Program!
- Set sprinklers to keep the water on the landscape and off the pavement. Lots of water is wasted by poorly designed and neglected sprinkler systems that spray sidewalks, driveways, and the street. Save water by directing sprinklers toward the landscape.
- Inspect your irrigation system monthly. Check for leaks, broken or clogged heads, and other problems, or engage a certified irrigation professional to regularly check your system. Clean microirrigation filters as needed and correct obstructions in sprinkler heads that prevent them from distributing water evenly. Our checklist “Find It, Flag It, Fix It: A Checklist For Your Landscape” (4 pp, 1 MB, About PDF) provides tips on how to identify irrigation and landscape issues and when you might want to call an irrigation professional for assistance.
- Play “zone” defense. Similar plants should be planted together in an irrigation zone, and each hydrozone should account for the type of sprinkler, sun or shade exposure, and type of plants. You can save even more water outdoors by incorporating water-smart landscaping principles into your landscape design.
Source: Watering Tips | US EPA
