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July is traditionally the month of peak water demand in North America.  The Irrigation Association has developed the Smart Irrigation Month initiative to help increase public awareness of the value of water-use efficiency, and to also help in the demand for water-saving products, services and practices.  The program was started in 2005 and has helped many industry firms and professionals, consumers and water providers realize the impact of efficient irrigation, in July and year-round.

 Check out these water saving irrigation tips courtesy of the Irrigation Association. 

Water Wisely

 Today's irrigation systems include sophisticated controllers that allow you to easily adjust watering schedules to fit different needs.

• Get in the zone. Schedule each individual zone in your irrigation system to account for type of sprinkler, sun or shade exposure, and soil in that section. Different zones will almost always need different watering schedules.

• Consider soil type. Type of soil determines how quickly water can be absorbed without runoff. Watering more than soil can absorb causes runoff and waste.

• Don't send water down the drain. Set sprinklers to water plants, not your driveway, sidewalk, patio or buildings.

• Water only when needed. Saturate root zones and let the soil dry. Watering too much and too frequently results in shallow roots, weed growth, disease and fungus.

• Water at the best time. Watering during the heat of the day may cause losses of up to 30 percent due to evaporation. Prevent water loss by watering when the sun is low or down, winds are calm and temperatures are cool %u2014 typically between the evening and early morning.

• Water more often for shorter periods. For example, setting your system to run for three, 5-minute intervals lets soil absorb more water than watering for 15 minutes at one time, reducing runoff.

• Adapt watering to the season. Familiarize yourself with the settings on your irrigation controller and adjust the watering schedule regularly based on seasonal weather conditions. Or invest in a smart controller so your system can make these changes automatically.

Smart Irrigation Month is an initiative of the Irrigation Association, a non-profit industry organization dedicated to promoting efficient irrigation. Learn more at www.smartirrigationmonth.org.

To find an IA-certified professional to design, install, maintain or audit your irrigation system, visit www.irrigation.org/hirecertified.