If you're looking for places to save water, your yard is a potential option. Many homeowners don't know exactly how much water their sprinkler system uses each day, or how much they can cut back without harming their lawn. The guide below explains how you can gauge this. 

How to Measure Water Used by Irrigation Systems

1. Collect a Sample

Find several small containers with straight vertical sides, such as three or four coffee mugs or tuna cans. Arrange them in your yard at varying distances from your lawn sprinklers. Then turn on the sprinkler system and let it run for 15 minutes. Turn it off, then collect the containers. Measure the depth of the water in them and average the results from all the containers to get a picture of the entire yard.

2. Calculate the Rate

Your lawn needs about one inch of water per week in hot weather to thrive. Calculate how long it takes for your sprinkler system to deliver one inch. If your average measurement after 15 minutes was 1/8 inch, it will distribute an inch of water in two hours. If it's 1/2 inch, it takes half an hour. Divide this required time per week by seven to get your lawn's daily water needs, and deliver that much water every morning.

3. Calculate Price

To determine how many gallons of water are being used to achieve an inch of coverage each week, measure your yard's length and width and multiply them together to get square footage. If you have an irregularly shaped lawn, you'll need to divide it into areas with more regular shapes and measure each area individually. Once you have the square footage, multiply it by 0.623; this is how many gallons of water are needed weekly. Multiply this number by the price per gallon, and don't forget to add the price of sewer service, since most cities don't measure your sewer usage directly and rely on your water usage statistics instead. This is how much you're paying to water your lawn.

To install a more efficient sprinkler system, contact Maxum Irrigation in Waterford, CT. Serving Connecticut and Rhode Island for over 17 years, this team of New London County specialists designs and installs precise, efficient, convenient irrigation options, including automatic sprinkler systems. To request a quote, call (860) 525-7000 or reach out online.