Better water-efficiency practices can keep water and maintenance costs down. You can meet your water budget or water-use goals by reducing water waste outside your home.

The most obvious sign of overwatering is high water bills. This can also be a sign of a leak or irrigation problems.

Here are seven ways to make your landscape more water-efficient before the hot season begins.

  1. Irrigate plants or grass with the right amount of water. Maintain a regular irrigation schedule. Check out this watering guide for recommended watering times.
  2. Prevent water from running down streets and sidewalks by installing new generation sprinkler nozzles. Manufacturers make these nozzles in different arcs and angles for better water application. Learn more by watching this video. 
  3. Fix or replace improperly adjusted or mismatched sprinkler heads or nozzles. You can also relocate improperly positioned or spaced sprinkler heads. All sprinkler heads should be the same type and model. The manufacturer’s catalog should list specific spacing requirements
  4. Repair broken sprinkler heads to maintain pressure and to reduce water waste. Broken sprinkler heads can waste more than 500 gallons of water per week.
  5. Install a pressure regulator for a uniform depth of water application and controlled sprinkler performance.
  6. Install a drip irrigation system that applies water directly to the root zone of each plant.
  7. Purchase or apply for a smart irrigation controller that self-adjusts periodically based on historical or current weather data.

In addition, Run your sprinklers while you are home and watch for issues, this will give you a visual of what is happening during daily irrigation. Look for signs of overwatering such as puddles, water stains on asphalt, wood fences and walls. Look for constantly wet areas and poorly performing plants.

Visit your water agency’s website to find water-efficiency rebates and discounts.