Show All Answers

1. What is the purpose of the Courtesy Consumption Notice?

The purpose of the Courtesy Consumption Notice is to inform residents that the water usage at respective property is nearing 30,000 gallons. Due to the increase in water usage, please expect a higher rate reflected on the next billing cycle. To avoid a higher rate charge, residents should retrace where the high-water consumption is coming from, whether it is an irrigation issue, a plumbing issue, etc. to lower the water usage resulting is resolving the excess usage.

2. Why are my sprinklers coming on after a rainfall?

Possible Reasons Include: 

• Sometimes there isn’t enough rainfall for what the rain sensor is set for. For example, if the rain sensor was set to turn off the irrigation when there is ½” (half inch) of rain fall, and maybe only ¼”(one fourth inch) of rainfall was collected that day. The irrigation system will still turn on.
• The rain sensor is older or outdated and needs to be replaced. Usually, depending on the type of rain sensor, sensors usually last for about 4-5 years, keeping in mind that some sensors are playful treats for squirrels to nibble on.
• The connection from the rain sensor to the irrigation controller could be disconnected. Some times after a house was re-roofed the rain sensor is not installed back properly, and sometimes the wire going to the controller is cut due to lawn maintenance or renovations done around the connectors.
• The controller settings for a rain sensor is set to “Off” or “Bypass.” Some controllers have the option to turn off or bypass the rain sensor. This option is utilized when the user installs new sod and/or wants the irrigation system to run daily. This option is usually turned to the “Off" or “Bypass” setting by home builders wanting to establish their landscape prior to the closing of the new home.  

3. Why is the reclaim water pressure very low during the day?

Usually between the hours of 10 AM to 4 PM, the reclaim water tanks are shut off and refilled for the next day of use. During this time frame, it is not recommended to irrigate the lawn because it is during the hottest time block of the day. Irrigating the lawn can risk damaging the landscape; the heat from the sun will evaporate the water before it reaches the roots or damage the roots from heated water.

4. When is the best time to irrigate?

Homes with an even numbered home addresses are recommended to irrigate only on Sunday and Thursday, while odd numbered home addresses are recommended to irrigate only on Saturday and Wednesday. 

During those recommended days, the best time to irrigate is in early morning, allowing the sod to take in as much water as it can and while the remaining water from the irrigation dries or evaporates when the sun has fully risen. Letting excess water sit over night can run the risk of mold or fungus growing in the lawn.

5. Why does a zone(s) continue to water after the cycle is complete?

As that zone is on, unplug the controller to see if the irrigation shuts off. If it does, then there might be an issue with the programming on the controller. If it continues to irrigate, then there is an issue with one of the control valves.

6. How long should I irrigate each zone?

Zones should be separated by irrigation types.

• Pop-up spray zones can be 15 to 25 minutes.
• Rotor Zones can be 40 to 50 minutes.
• Rotary Zones 40 to 50 minutes.
• Drip and/or Bubbler Zones can be 15 to 25 minutes.

Depending on the coverage the irrigation system provides for the landscaping, coverage can dictate how long to irrigate each zone. If the zone(s) provide full coverage on the landscaping, then lower irrigation times will work just as well.

The type of landscaping dictates the amount of irrigation needed as well. High drought tolerant sod like Bahia, requires less amounts of water. Sods like St. Augustine or Zosia are low drought tolerant turfs which will require the higher of the suggested times.