Tips to Save Water - Outdoor Watering Nerds

Below are useful tips on how you can save water

Be a leak detective! Check all hoses, connectors, and faucets regularly for leaks and fix them right away. Faucets that drip once per second waste over 3,000 gallons a year. Leaky faucets may saturate a septic system causing it to fail or result in higher electric bills for private well owners. Replace broken and missing sprinkler heads immediately. A missing sprinkler head can lose more than 12 gallons per minute.

Check your water meter. If the small flow triangle is spinning you may have a leak. Know where your master water shut-off valve is located. If a pipe bursts, this could save water and prevent damage. See Leak Detection.

Monitor your water bill for unusually high use. Your bill and water meter are tools that can help you discover leaks. Check your water meter. If the small flow triangle is spinning you may have a leak. See Leak Detection. For private wells, consider installing a water meter.

Yes, avoid watering in the heat of the day to reduce water lost to evaporation. Water before 9:00am or after 6:00pm. Avoid watering on windy days as wind can distort sprinkler patterns and produce non-uniform irrigation. Be sure to shut off your sprinklers when it is raining.

Adjust your watering frequency and length based on temperature and rainfall. For sprinkler systems, install rain shut-off devices that will automatically shut off your sprinklers when it rains or weather-based irrigation equipment that adjusts run times based on real-time weather data. Install a Weather Based Irrigation Timer that will adjust watering based on weather data. Look for the EPA Water Sense logo.

Water your lawn once every three days during the summer. Even during the hottest part of the year, most lawns do not need to be watered every day. By watering only once every three days, you promote deeper root growth and that makes your lawn more water efficient..

Here are three tests to determine if water is needed:

Push a 6″ long screwdriver shaft into the ground. If it goes in easily, don’t water.
If your lawn has a grayish cast or appears to dull green, it needs water.
Walk on your lawn. If your footprints don’t disappear quickly, the grass blades don’t have the needed moisture to spring back and need water.

From October 1^st to March 31^st lawns in our area go dormant and do not need watering. A brown lawn is not a dead lawn. See Calculate Water Needs.

For lawns, sprinkler heads and nozzles, like MP Rotators, are best because they deliver large drops of water instead of a fine mist that can evaporate quickly. Choosing the best heads and nozzles depends on the plants being watered. Drip irrigation may be the better alternative for garden and flower beds. See Repair and Retrofit or Drip Systems.

How long you should water depends upon two factors:

How quickly your sprinklers put water on your lawn. Try the Tuna Can Test. See Calculate Sprinkler Time.
The amount of water your grass needs to stay healthy. See Seasonal Water Needs.

Four cans are enough for a 15′ by 15′ zone. On larger zones, use more cans. Avoid placing cans close to the sprinkler heads or near the edge of your lawn area. Space the cans evenly on the lawn.

Empty all the cans, reposition the cans and run your irrigation system for another 10 minutes. Do not increase or decrease this 10-minute run time test. Uneven water application will affect the quality of your lawn in the future. If certain areas are getting too much or too little water, try adjusting your sprinkler heads to get a more uniform application. See Repair and Retrofit.

You will be wasting water and increasing your water bills. Overwatered lawns can be more susceptible to diseases such as fungus and root-rot. Damp grass can also harbor mosquito larva. Using water wisely protects our Spokane River and sole source Aquifer. See Saving Water Matters.

Check the coverage of your irrigation system. Look for broken head nozzles or underground pipes. Adjust the sprinkler heads to reduce water application to wet areas. If the water is puddling in low spots, add soil to those locations. A level lawn is easier to water, mow and maintain.

Check the coverage of your irrigation system. Check your water pressure. Low water pressure may be the issue. Adjust the sprinkler heads to ensure head-to-head coverage. Use the same sprinkler type and nozzle size in each sprinkler zone.

If water is running off high spots, remove soil from those locations. A level lawn is easier to water, mow and maintain. If some areas appear dry after sprinkling, hand water those areas instead of increasing sprinkler run time. See Repair and Retrofit.

Grass doesn’t spring back after being stepped on. It is difficult to push a screwdriver into the soil. Turf still feels warm in the evening after the sun goes down.

Water puddles in areas. Turf has a musty odor. Soil is extremely soft and mushy. Moss or mushrooms are present.

Fertilizer can encourage your grass to grow and increase water demand. You will need to mow it more often. If you choose to apply fertilizer, less is better. Excessive amounts of fertilizer can burn a lawn. Fertilizer is carried in runoff to storm drains and can impact our river and aquifer.

Aerate your lawn periodically. Holes every six inches will allow water to reach the roots, rather than run off the surface. Try a Cycle Soak program watering and resting, watering and resting so the water is absorbed into the soil. Increase the organic matter in your soil. This will help it hold water longer, reducing the need to water so frequently.

Yes, you can reduce your irrigation run times. However, if lawn areas that are in the sun are on the same irrigation zone, they will also get less water and could suffer or possibly burn. Separate your irrigation zones by the type of plants and the amount of sun.

Use 3-4 inches of mulch around landscape plants and on bare soil surfaces. This reduces evaporation, promotes plant growth, and reduces weeds.

Mow your lawn regularly and make sure grass does not block sprinkler heads. Keep your mower blades sharp. Dull blades will damage and fray the grass making it difficult for the turf to grow back properly. Cut the grass at 3 ½ to 4 inches. Taller grass shades roots, holds soil moisture, reduce evaporation, and protect your lawn from burnout, weeds, insects, and disease better than short grass. Leave lawn clippings on your grass. This cools the ground and holds in moisture.

See Nerds Landscapes

Plant less lawn area or remove lawn and replace with mulch, trees, shrubs, groundcovers and/or perennials.
Choose drought tolerant plants and groundcovers that require less water and crowd out weeds. Native plants are adapted to the local climate and need less maintenance.
Install drip irrigation for trees, shrubs, groundcovers, and flowers.
The average 15’x15′ lawn uses over 5,000 gallons of water per year. A xeriscape yard, using native plants, can be maintained with little or no supplemental water after it is established.

Set your sprinklers so they don’t water impermeable surfaces such as sidewalks, driveways, and compacted ground.
When the kids want to cool off, place the sprinkler where your lawn needs water.
Wash your pets outdoors, in an area of your lawn that is dry.
When cleaning out fish tanks, give the nutrient-rich water to your non-edible plants.
Use a broom instead of a hose to clean patios, sidewalks, and driveways.
Install a rain barrel to collect rainwater for garden use.
Use a pool cover to help keep your pool clean, reduce chemical use and reduce water loss through evaporation.
Use a commercial car wash that recycles water. Or use a hose nozzle and wash your car on the lawn, then you’ll water your grass at the same time.
Winterize outdoor spigots when temperatures dip below freezing to prevent pipes from leaking or bursting.