Overwatering is Harmful to Our Watersheds and Your Pocketbook!

If you’re running your sprinkler too much, you could be in violation of water conservation ordinances and/or stormwater regulations. According to state regulations “overwatering is a prohibited activity” and can cost you money, hurt our planet, and kill our landscapes. Rainwater and irrigation runoff travels over land and picks up what we’ve left behind: trash, pet waste, fertilizers and other pollutants. Make sure you are doing your part! The tips below will help you stay in compliance.

  • Don’t Drown Your Lawn
    • Your irrigation system might be drowning your lawn. Cycles that last more than 5 minutes can lead to over-watering and create runoff.
    • Water for 3-5-minute-long spurts to allow your lawn to soak up the water.
  • It’s All About Timing
    • Adjust the timing of your sprinklers to water only once before sunrise or after sunset.
    • Also, make sure to turn them off when it rains.
  • Choose To Broom
    • Hosing your driveway creates runoff and sends pollutants into storm drains that lead directly to our rivers, lakes, streams and eventually out to our oceans. Hosing down your driveway once a week also wastes 7,800 gallons of water a week.
    • Try sweeping with a broom instead.
  • If It’s Broken, Fix It
    • Regularly monitor your irrigation system to identify any leaks, broken sprinkler heads or misdirected sprinklers watering into the street or other hardscaped areas. A broken sprinkler head can waste up to 25,000 gallons of water in six months! For more information  on how to fix, check out this link.
    • If your hose leaks while you run it, replace the nylon or rubber hose wash.
    • Also make sure sprinklers are facing the landscapes, and not pavement!

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