Easy sprinkler tips for summer

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A sprinkler shoots water straight up in the lawn.
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It may feel like a long time ago, but do you remember the snowstorm we had this winter? With the winter beauty came freezing pipes and falling trees. Have you checked your irrigation system for cracked pipes or other damage caused by ice and snow? 

Give your sprinkler system the checkup it needs. By checking your pipes now, you could save water in the warmer months, lowering your bills and stretching our water supply. 

Graphic depicting inefficient watering methods and systems  with a hose spilling water onto the street. Text reads: As much as 50 percent of the water we use outdoors is waster from inefficient watering methods and systems.

Follow these four simple steps to make sure you’re ready for summer: inspect, connect, direct, and select. 

  1. Inspect for breaks and leaks: Check your system for clogged, broken, or missing sprinkler heads or hoses. Not ready to do it yourself? Go with a pro—find a WaterSense-certified irrigation professional in the Portland metro area

  1. Connect sprinklers, pipes, and valves: Examine places where sprinklers and valves connect to pipes or hoses. Many of these connections are underground, so check your landscape between irrigation cycles for pooling water or soggy areas. These could indicate a leak. A leak as small as the tip of a pen can waste about 6,300 gallons of water each month! 

  1. Direct sprinklers toward your landscaping: Are you watering the driveway, house, or sidewalk instead of your yard? Redirect sprinklers to water only plants. 

  1. Select the right amount of water: An improperly scheduled irrigation controller can waste a lot of water and money. Take the guesswork out of scheduling and sign up for the Weekly Watering Number. Adjust your controller with the seasons or select a WaterSense-labeled controller. Portland Water Bureau customers who install an approved WaterSense-labeled controller are eligible for a rebate of $100 to $500 (limit one per account). 

Irrigation rebates 

If you make upgrades or replacements to your irrigation equipment this summer, you might be eligible for a rebate. Rebates are available for WaterSense-labeled irrigation controllers and multi-stream rotator sprinkler nozzles. Anyone with an active City of Portland sewer, stormwater, and water account can apply for rebates. Annual backflow testing must be up to date to get a rebate. You must apply for your rebate within 90 days of purchase. Please call us at 503-823-4527 or email water conservation staff with any questions! 

Get a rebate by following these 3 steps.  

Step 1: Purchase qualifying hardware and save your receipts. 

Step 2: Install hardware and make sure backflow testing is up to date. 

Step 3: Complete rebate application. 

Get all the details on our irrigation rebate webpage and learn more about maintaining a water-smart yard.