Annual Fix a Leak Week and Irrigation Management

County of San Diego, California sent this bulletin at 03/03/2023 04:00 PM PST

county of san diego watershed protection program

WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS

Fix a Leak, Protect a Creek

Join others around the nation in celebrating National Fix a Leak Week, March 13^th-19^th, 2023! This week is a great reminder to not only step up efforts to find and fix leaks inside and outside your home to save valuable water and money, but to also learn how to better manage outdoor leaks and irrigation runoff to prevent water pollution. An average household's leaks can account for nearly 10,000 gallons of water wasted every year with ten percent of homes having leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day. Runoff from outdoor leaks can carry pollutants such as pet waste, trash and yard waste, fertilizers, and pesticides to storm drains which can end up untreated in our local waterways and cause harm to our environment.

Follow these tips to prevent water pollution and water waste.

Fix leaks and sprinklers – Fix sprinklers and other outdoor water leaks immediately. An irrigation system that has just a small hole about the thickness of a dime can waste about 6,300 gallons of water per month. If your garden hose is leaking, replace the nylon or rubber hose washer and ensure a tight connection. Watch the County of San Diego’s video on Stormwater Best Management Practices for Irrigation Repair for simple fixes for your irrigation system. For more involved repair work and to ensure your in-ground irrigation system is not leaking, consult a local irrigation professional certified by a WaterSense labeled program.
Ensure sprinkler system and timer are operating efficiently – Check your irrigation system to look for water efficiency improvements, and test it to ensure the zones are programmed correctly. Use the EPA’s WaterSense brochure, Is Your Watering Under Control? to reduce waste and prevent polluted runoff from leaving your property. Learn more about the mechanics and programming options of your irrigation timer by watching the instructional video Understanding Your Irrigation Controller.
Irrigate intelligently – Adjust sprinkler heads so they don’t spray onto streets or sidewalks. Water in short cycles and in the early morning or late evening when it’s cooler outside to allow water to absorb into the soil. Use a watering calculator to receive customized watering schedules for your landscape. For more information on how you can best utilize your timer, check out the County of San Diego’s video on Stormwater Best Management Practices for Irrigation Controllers and Timers.

Thank you for doing your part to prevent water waste and to protect our waterways. For a landscape walk-through checklist to help you further identify irrigation issues, check out the EPA’s WaterSense Brochure Find It, Flag It, Fix It: A Checklist for Your Landscape.

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

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ONLINE SERVICES

Report Stormwater Pollution
Report observed pollution to the correct jurisdiction.

Citizen Access Portal
Research property information and permits. Apply for some permits online.

GIS Maps
Find property information including zoning designation with our web-based mapping tool.

Watershed Protection Website
sandiegocounty.gov/stormwater

Learn more about available water quality rebates that you could apply to your property!

Project Clean Water efforts are focused on providing a centralized point of access to water quality information and resources for San Diego County Watersheds. Click HERE to visit Project Clean Water’s website.