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By ELIZABETH DROZDA-FREEMAN, LCRA
June 28, 2006
AUSTIN — If you have an irrigation system and have noticed dead areas in your yard, you may be an unintentional water waster.
Leaking lines and broken or misdirected sprinkler heads are frequent causes of dry spots in yards with irrigation systems. A leak or broken head lowers the pressure of the system, often to the point where other heads will not pop up. Water intended for your lawn can instead end up running down the storm drain, leaving your plants stressed or dying.
It is a good idea to check your irrigation system seasonally to be sure that the water it uses goes where you intend. Here are some suggestions on how to do it:
- Manually turn on the system and check for leaks, broken heads, misdirected heads and runoff.
- Replace broken heads with new ones by the same manufacturer. Replacing broken heads is inexpensive, and will greatly benefit your yard.
- Bring the broken head with you to the irrigation supply store to be sure you find the proper replacement.
- For larger repairs to the system, hire an irrigator licensed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
Water wasted by damaged irrigation systems not only costs you money and can ruin your lawn, but in some areas also may put you at odds with restrictions on water waste. For example, LCRA’s retail water customers could receive a minimum surcharge of $200 for failing to repair wasteful irrigation systems. The City of Austin also has a water-waste ordinance that includes fines.
For more information about eliminating water waste in your landscape, check LCRA’s Web site at http://www.lcra.org/water/save/index.html
Elizabeth Drozda-Freeman is a conservation landscape specialist at LCRA. Call her at 1-800-776-5272, Ext. 2230, with questions about Hill Country landscaping, or e-mail her at elizabeth.drozda-freeman@lcra.org.
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