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!
