Outdoor Conservation Resources
Most Bend homeowners use considerably more water outside than inside, mainly because of watering their lawns and gardens. Knowing this, it’s really important to make sure we’re not wasting any water when we irrigate our landscapes.
To manage water wisely in your yard, it’s important to regularly check your irrigation system, adjust your watering schedule as needed, and ensure that water isn’t spraying or running off onto nearby surfaces. Avoid the “set it and forget it” approach and take care to manage water carefully.
WaterWise Irrigation
Save water in your yard during the irrigation season! As temperatures rise, so does our outdoor water use, especially on lawns and landscapes. The tips and resources below can help to keep your sprinkler system efficient and WaterWise.
Spring Irrigation Start-Up Tips
Spring is a great time to spruce up your irrigation system by following four simple steps—inspect, connect, direct and select. Make sure your landscape stays WaterWise during the watering season!
Irrigation Scheduling and Hours
Maximize your irrigation efficiency! Follow the even and odd day watering schedule and nighttime watering rules throughout the season. Watering your garden early in the morning or later in the evening helps reduce water loss due to evaporation, wind, and runoff. Adjust your irrigation schedule seasonally using the seasonal adjust % or water budget % feature on your controller.
Sprinkler Inspection Program
The City of Bend provides free sprinkler inspections through their Sprinkler Inspection Program. Trained City staff will conduct a visual inspection, review your watering schedule, test the system, and suggest a new or improved schedule. They’ll also answer any questions you have.
Efficient Irrigation: Maintenance Tips
To keep your irrigation system working efficiently, it’s important to maintain it regularly. Issues like tilted or broken sprinklers, too much system pressure, overspray, and runoff can lead to water waste if not addressed. Make sure to inspect your irrigation system often to prevent these problems and conserve water.
Sustainable Soil and Water Practices
Using good horticultural practices is key to conserving water in your landscape. Central Oregon soils are coarse and don’t retain water as well as soils from other regions. To use less water, try aerating your lawns, adding mulch to planting beds, and incorporating native plants into your garden.
Call 811 Before You Dig
If you’re planning to dig, make sure to call 8-1-1 or visit the Oregon 811 center’s website a few business days beforehand. This will allow the approximate location of buried utilities to be marked with paint or flags, preventing accidental damage to underground utility lines.
Always contact the Oregon 811 center, wait for the required time for utilities to respond, and ensure all utilities have marked their lines before you start digging.
Pollinator Parkways
The WaterWise Pollinator Parkway project aims to stop irrigation water from spilling onto roads from narrow landscape strips between the street and sidewalk. By converting these strips, we reduce water waste and create habitats for pollinators like bees, butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds. These creatures are crucial for the environment, helping plants and trees grow and contributing to our food supply. You can support them by creating a native pollinator habitat in your yard.
Technical Assistance
Learn the best ways to reduce water waste in your landscape. WaterWise Program staff are available to help customers minimize water waste. You can receive a one-page Water Use Analysis through the WaterWise Program, which identifies potential water and financial savings. Contact WaterWise Program staff at 541-317-3000, ext. 2 or conservation@bendoregon.gov.