How to Conserve Water With Your Lawn Irrigation System
Keeping your lawn and landscape healthy doesn’t have to mean using more water. An efficiently operating irrigation system can deliver water where it is needed while reducing waste caused by leaks, poor sprinkler coverage, runoff, and overwatering.
For homeowners who rely on irrigation during the growing season, a few simple adjustments can make a meaningful difference.
1. Check Your Sprinkler Heads
Sprinkler heads that are broken, clogged, or pointed toward sidewalks and driveways can waste water.
Inspect your system regularly and look for water spraying onto pavement, pooling in certain areas, or leaving portions of your lawn dry.
Correcting these issues helps more of the water reach the landscape instead of being lost.
2. Adjust Your Irrigation Schedule
Your lawn doesn’t necessarily need the same amount of water throughout the entire growing season.
Weather conditions, rainfall, temperature, soil moisture, and plant needs can all change. Adjusting your irrigation controller accordingly can prevent unnecessary watering.
Weller Brothers includes programming adjustments as part of its spring irrigation start-up process to help systems provide the appropriate amount of water for the landscape.
3. Water at the Right Time
Watering during the hottest part of the day can increase evaporation.
Whenever possible, irrigation should be scheduled for periods when temperatures and evaporation are lower. Your exact schedule should also account for local weather and the specific needs of your landscape.
4. Fix Leaks Promptly
A small irrigation leak can become a significant source of water waste when the system operates repeatedly.
Watch for:
- Standing water
- Muddy areas
- Unusually green patches
- Water bubbling from the ground
- Sprinkler heads that continue running
- Sudden changes in water pressure
If you notice these issues, have the system inspected.
5. Consider Moisture Management
Irrigation isn’t the only way to help your lawn retain moisture.
Weller Brothers offers Moisture Manager as a supplemental lawn and landscape treatment. According to Weller Brothers, the application can reduce the need to water turf, shrubs, and trees by up to 50% for up to 3 months.
Combining appropriate irrigation practices with moisture-management strategies can help reduce unnecessary watering while supporting landscape health.
6. Maintain Your System
Even the most carefully programmed irrigation system won’t operate efficiently if its components aren’t functioning correctly.
Regular inspections can identify:
- Leaking pipes
- Damaged sprinkler heads
- Clogged nozzles
- Valve problems
- Controller issues
- Uneven coverage
Keeping these components in working order helps ensure the water your system uses is actually reaching the landscape.
A More Efficient Irrigation System Starts With Maintenance
Water conservation isn’t necessarily about watering less at all costs. It’s about ensuring your landscape receives the water it needs without wasting it where it isn’t needed.
Proper programming, functioning equipment, regular inspections, and seasonal maintenance can all contribute to more efficient irrigation.
Weller Brothers provides irrigation maintenance and repair services throughout its Midwest service areas, including Sioux Falls and Des Moines.
Want to improve the efficiency of your irrigation system?
FAQ'S
How can I use less water on my lawn?
You can reduce lawn water use by maintaining your sprinkler system, fixing leaks, adjusting irrigation schedules based on weather and landscape conditions, and ensuring sprinkler heads are properly positioned. Efficient irrigation focuses on delivering the appropriate amount of water where it is needed.