SPRINKLER WATER CONSERVATION TIPS FOR HOMEOWNERS

Saving water is an important part of saving the environment—and saving money. There are many ways homeowners in Greater Philadelphia, Bucks, and Montgomery Counties can conserve water based on the size of their lawn. But if you have a professionally installed irrigation system, you are off to a good start.

 

By starting with a rain or soil irrigation system to detect water, homeowners can determine how much water their plants are already receiving. They can then take this information to choose whether they want a sprinkler or drip system, or to continue watering their lawn by hand. A simple test using cans and a sprinkler system can also prove how much water a lawn requires to prevent any further waste.

 

Different irrigation systems

 

There are two options for irrigation systems: rain or soil. Rain systems detect small amounts of water and shut down the automated irrigation schedule when it’s raining. Soil sensors detect moisture at the root of a plant, making them more accurate because they can measure how much water the plants already have.

 

So although the rain sensor is a lower cost option, the soil sensor will preserve more water in the long run. A professional contractor can help homeowners decide on which option is best for their lawn.

 

How big is the lawn?

 

Depending on the size of their lawn, homeowners have three choices for irrigation systems. A sprinkler system can be programmed to turn on early in the morning to avoid evaporation; they are a good option for large lawns.

 

Drip irrigation is effective for preventing runoff and evaporation because it feeds the soil directly. In fact, it can supply up to four gallons of water per hour and is best for small yards and plants.

 

The last choice is hand watering. While this is possible for a lawn of any size, it requires the homeowner to have knowledge and good judgement to avoid overwatering the lawn.

 

Understand how much water the lawn needs

 

Homeowners have to understand how much water their lawn needs so they can conserve it most effectively. If they are hand watering, it’s important to make sure their technique allows the water to reach the grass roots.

 

However, for those using a sprinkler system, they can test it by scattering cans around the lawn and running the sprinklers for 15 minutes. Then add up the depth of water in each can and divide it by the number of cans. This is the amount of water the sprinkler uses in 15 minutes. Once homeowners understand this number, they can assess how much water they are saving or wasting based on how much their lawn is getting.

 

Homeowners might not be aware that they can save water even while preserving a beautiful lawn. A good place to start is by installing rain and soil sensors, and then figuring out if a sprinkler or drip irrigation system is best for upkeeping their lawn, depending on its size. By taking the extra step of testing their sprinkler water output by placing cans around their lawn and turning the sprinkler on for 15 minutes, homeowners can make an informed decision on how to reduce water waste.

 

For more information on conserving water with a professionally installed irrigation system, call Modern Landscapes today!

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