Sign up for the Weekly Watering Number
Take the guesswork out of watering and sign up to receive a personalized Weekly Watering Number. Each week, you’ll receive an update telling you how much to water based on local weather conditions. You can use the Weekly Watering Number with any type of watering system. Take 15 minutes to measure how much water your system uses (don’t worry, this is a one-time thing!) and you’ll be set to water efficiently all summer long.
Start smart watering with a WaterSense-labeled controller
Does your in-ground irrigation system run on the same schedule in any weather?
If so, consider upgrading to a smart irrigation controller. Smart controllers use weather or soil moisture data to adjust how much your system waters. This reduces water waste and promotes plant health.
Apply for a rebate
Portland Water Bureau customers who install an approved WaterSense-labeled irrigation controller are eligible for a rebate! Residential accounts can receive up to $100, and commercial or multifamily accounts can receive up to $500. Limit one rebate per account.
Learn more and apply for a rebate
Two types of smart controller have earned the WaterSense label
- Weather-based irrigation controllers use local weather data to adjust when and how much to water.
- Soil moisture–based irrigation controllers, also known as soil moisture sensors, determine when to water by measuring the moisture in the ground.
Do it yourself or work with a pro
To save water, your smart controller must be carefully programmed and correctly wired.
- Do it yourself: Get tips for installing and maintaining a smart irrigation controller from the Regional Water Providers Consortium.
- Work with a pro: Find a WaterSense-certified irrigation professional in the Portland area. These pros use water-efficient techniques and are certified by the EPA’s WaterSense program.
More smart watering tips
- Check your sprinkler system with a monthly walk-through. Often, sprinklers are set to run while we’re sleeping, and we never see the problems. Take five to fifteen minutes each month to run each zone of your sprinkler system and check for issues. Look for broken sprinkler heads or sprinklers that are watering the sidewalk or driveway instead of your plants.
Water in the morning or evening. When you water before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m., less water evaporates because temperatures are cooler and the air is calmer.
A multistream rotating sprinkler nozzle - Switch to multistream rotating sprinklers. Multistream rotating nozzles can use up to 30 percent less water than standard sprinklers. Multistream rotators apply water more slowly and evenly than standard spray heads. This is especially important if you have a sloping landscape or clay soil. The Portland Water Bureau offers rebates on qualifying multistream rotating nozzles.
- Water the old-fashioned way. Watering by hand can be a smart way to water too! If you hand water with a hose, a self-closing hose nozzle is an easy way to use water only where you need it. Get free hose nozzles and other water-saving devices from the Portland Water Bureau.
