Spruce Up Your Sprinkler System and Save Water this Earth Day

Spring has arrived, and as we celebrate Earth Day this April 22, the onset of warmer weather can lead to an increase in landscape irrigation. If you’re planning on doing some landscaping this season, be sure to spruce up your irrigation system before you ramp up your watering. System maintenance can help save you a lot of money and water!

Cracks in pipes can lead to costly leaks, and broken sprinkler heads can waste water and money. You could be losing as much as 25,000 gallons of water and more than $90 over a six-month irrigation season!

sprinkler-spruce-up_infographicNow is the perfect time to spruce up your irrigation system. To get started, follow these four simple steps — inspect, connect, direct, and select:

  • Inspect. Check your system for clogged, broken, or missing sprinkler heads. Better yet, go with a pro—find an irrigation professional certified by a WaterSense labeled irrigation program to do the work for you.
  • Connect. Examine points where the sprinkler heads connect to pipes/hoses. If water is pooling in your landscape or you have large soggy areas, you could have a leak in your system. A leak as small as the tip of a ballpoint pen (1/32 of an inch) can waste about 6,300 gallons of water per month.
  • Direct. Are you watering the driveway, house, or sidewalk instead of your yard? Redirect sprinklers to apply water only to the landscape.
  • Select. An improperly scheduled irrigation controller can waste a lot of water and money. Update your system’s schedule with the seasons, or select a WaterSense labeled controller to take the guesswork out of scheduling.

Don’t forget to add “sprinkler spruce-up” to your spring cleaning list this year. Your wallet and Mother Nature will thank you.