City Parks staff report that crews are readying the City’s sprinkler systems for spring and summer, and recommend homeowners do the same, to identify any problems before temperatures rise and landscapes suffer.
Simple adjustments can save money and water—a broken sprinkler system running for six months on an average lawn can waste up to 25,000 gallons of water, according to the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD).
While winter water hours are still in effect in Richardson until April 1 (watering allowed at any time of day), it’s a great time to run a test of your sprinkler system during daylight hours so you can observe each zone, making sure there are no leaks and that sprinkler heads are working properly. Avoid over-spraying of sidewalks, driveways and streets; adjust or replace heads as necessary.
Water University, a division of Texas A&M’s AgriLife Research Extension Service/Dallas Center, has an irrigation troubleshooting list posted online, with tips on how to fix irrigation system problems, including a step-by-step “how-to” video. Click here to view.
Once your system is in good working order, make sure to set it on “manual” and sign up for Water My Yard, a free service from A&M Extension in partnership with NTMWD. Water My Yard e-mails you weekly custom watering recommendations based on your address and type of irrigation system. It’s one of the best ways to keep water bills as low as possible while keeping lawns healthy. Find it at www.watermyyard.org.
