City of Bend
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SAVE WATER IN THE YARD THIS SUMMER!
As temperatures rise in the summer, so does our outdoor water use, mostly on lawns and landscapes.
Irrigation Sprinkler Scheduling
Watering early in the morning or later evening can reduce water loss from evaporation, wind and runoff. Make changes seasonally using the seasonal adjust % or water budget% feature on your controller. Changing the irrigation schedule by one minute can save 15-20 gallons.
- Adjusting your sprinkler run times
- Precipitation Rate
- Cycle/Soak
- Example Schedules
- LINK TO SCHEDULING INSTRUCTIONS
Leaks - Breaks - Repairs
All leaks and breaks should be fixed as soon as possible. Look for signs such as consistently wet/saturated areas or soil erosion. Most small leaks can easily be fixed without specialized training or tools. Some mainline leaks may be repairable without specialized training or tools, however, some mainline leaks may require a professional. Fixing sprinkler leaks can save 10 gallons per minute per leak!
- Leaks in the irrigation line
- Leaks at the sprinkler head
- How to move a sprinkler
- Backflow prevention
Sprinkler Performance
Irrigation systems require regular maintenance to stay efficient. Tilted or broken sprinklers, excessive system pressure, overspray and runoff all contribute to water waste when left unchecked. Conduct regular inspections to make sure your irrigation system is adjusted correctly and running efficiently.
- Eliminate water waste
- Optimal operating pressure
- Adjusting sprinklers
- Sprinkler uniformity
Building the Soil Sponge
Sound horticultural practices are an important piece in using less water in your landscape. Central Oregon soils are course and retain less water than soils from other regions. Aerating lawns, using mulch in planting beds, and finding areas to utilize native plantings are all ways to use less water in your landscape.
- Amending soil
- Aerating lawns
- Got mulch?
- Converting to a WaterWise landscape
- LINK TO SOIL IMPROVEMENT TIPS
Call 811 Before You Dig
Anyone who plans to dig should call 8-1-1 or go to the Oregon 811 center’s website a few business days before digging to request that the approximate location of buried utilities be marked with paint or flags so that you don’t unintentionally dig into an underground utility line.
Always contact the Oregon 811 center, wait the required time for utilities to respond to your request, and ensure that all utilities have responded to your request before putting a shovel in the ground.
Springtime Spruce Up
It doesn’t take much to prepare your sprinkler system in the spring with four simple steps. Link to the springtime spruce up steps.
Printable Checklist