It’s Smart Irrigation Month; here are the top three tips for better irrigation!

A little bit of knowledge can go a long way in making our lives easier. Utilizing best practices in irrigation and watering efficiency can create the benefits of less time, less maintenance and less water all while keeping those landscapes in tip top shape.

Head to head coverage. The spray from your sprinkler should reach all the way to the next sprinkler head. The spray diminishes in its reach and so it needs this coverage to get an even amount of water.
Check for broken and misaligned sprinkler heads. Given you are probably asleep when the system is running, you should turn it on and check it occasionally to ensure the system is in working order and watering only where it should be.
Schedule your controller for Cycle and Soak. The best way to combat the heat is to water slowly. Cycle and Soak allows water to penetrate deep into the root zone, nourishing and strengthening the roots for a healthier, drought-resistant plant.

Want to get smarter with your irrigation?

Join us for Ask the Expert with Rick Schultz, Water Efficiency Supervisor,
for a free, informal, online webinar on July 13, 6-7 p.m.
Register here and bring your questions!

What’s the best turf?

Castle Rock Water’s favorite lawn turf is Dog Tuff. This is a rich green, fine bladed turf that grows in mounds only 2.5 to 4 inches tall. Though not necessary, it can be mowed for a more manicured look and is extremely resistant to pet urine. It is soft and cushiony, weed-resistant, and takes 1,000s of gallons of less water than a traditional turf. It loves the heat, and likes to wait until summer to green up.

The new, ‘best’ turf is a mix of fescue, ryes and bluegrasses such as the popular Texas Hybrid. These eco-friendly blends take less water than the traditional water-hogging Kentucky Bluegrass (so turn down the length of time on your irrigation controller). They also tend not to go dormant and turn brown as quickly in August when the temperature rises. Another benefit from some of these hybrids is that with less water, there is less growth, which means less mowing! If your home was built after 2018, this is the type of turf in your front yard!

The native-looking grasses in some open areas is probably a Buffalo grass. It needs very little water and has a fine soft-bluish green blade. It does well during the warm season, but does turn brown as the cooler temps come in. Once established, it can be mowed for a more manicured look. Buffalo grass is ideal for naturalized areas that don’t get regular irrigation.

There's more to Castle Rock Water than just water

When there is a leak in the street, Ken Ritchie, Senior Distribution Operator, is on it. The first step in fixing the leak, is finding it. Here, Ken, is using an acoustic leak detection tool (nicknamed the elephant foot), to pinpoint the leak, which could be as deep as six feet underground. After 6 years at Castle Rock Water and 17 years in the water industry, Ken knows how to keep the inconveniences of a leak to a minimum. Shutting off the water to fix the leak is the least of his worries as his primary concern is ensuring there is no contamination to the water at the leak. This task is an orchestration of turning down the valves within the water main and calculating the pressure at the fire hydrants.

Leaks in Castle Rock are not usually the geysers making headline news and this one was only four inches wide. It just took a clamp to fix it. Leaks are an exciting part of the job, but in Castle Rock, there is, on average, less than one water main break per month. That’s because, Ken and his team are out the rest of the month inspecting and “exercising” the valves and fire hydrants, where most leaks occur. If you see Ken and his team in the streets, (slow down), give them a wave, and be assured, that Ken is on it.