Smart Irrigation Month has arrived, which means it’s time to truly put sustainability first.
Because water use peaks in July, the Irrigation Association launched Smart irrigation Month in 2005 to educate individuals on the importance of conserving water, especially through the hotter months.
Several states and municipalities, as well as business and associations, have jumped on board with the campaign.
Conserving water is extremely important.
There is nothing more frustrating than driving by and seeing a sprinkler watering another sidewalk or street in the middle of the night. Water is wasted every day and everywhere.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), if homeowners with irrigation systems use WaterSense irrigation partners to perform regular maintenance, they could reduce irrigation water by 15 percent or about 9,000 gallons annually – the amount of water that would flow from a garden hose nonstop for approximately an entire day.
By following the simple words: Inspect, Connect, Direct and Select, sprinkler systems can be in tip-top shape year round.
Inspect. Check the system for clogged, broken or missing sprinkler heads.
RELATED: How Much Water Do you Consume?
Connect. Examine points where the sprinkler heads connect to pipes or hoses. If water pools in the landscape or you have large wet areas, you could have a leak in your system. A leak about as small as the tip of a ballpoint pen (or 1/32nd of an inch) can waste about 6,300 gallons of water per month.
Direct. Are you watering the driveway, house, or sidewalk instead of the yard? Redirect sprinklers to apply water only to the landscape.
Select. An improperly scheduled irrigation controller can waste water and money. Update the system’s watering schedule with the seasons, or select a WaterSense labeled controller to take the guesswork out of scheduling.
The EPA also provides additional tips on saving water when it comes to plants, soil and maintenance.
Also check out Ewing’s infographic on how to get smarter about water.
