You may lose 50% of water to evaporation when watering during the hottest part of the day (11 a.m. - 4 p.m.).
Small leaks may waste hundreds or thousands of gallons of water. Inspect and repair your system regularly or hire a professional to fix leaks.
Adjust nozzles to spray only the lawn. For hard-to-water areas, consider planting something that doesn't need irrigation.
A "rain-sensor" signals the irrigation box to turn off when it's raining. These units are available where many watering systems are sold.
Irrigation with a "drip" system is efficient, minimizes evaporation, overspray, and runoff. Systems are available at many garden centers.
Our drinking water, which is also used for irrigation, comes from aquifers through wells ranging from 300 to 800 feet deep.
Smart irrigation tips
A healthy lawn will be okay with 1" of water per week (via rain or irrigation). Measure rain with a simple gauge or your irrigation with a small container on the ground.
Water in the early morning or late evening and when it's not windy. Avoid watering between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. to reduce loss by evaporation.
Avoid irrigating too much, which causes shallow roots, lawn disease, and stress. You can check soil moisture with a simple moisture meter.
