The City of Twin Falls will begin the seasonal shutdown of pressurized irrigation stations on Thursday, Oct. 17. Homeowners on pressurized irrigation are encouraged to turn off sprinkler systems and winterize them by clearing water from the lines.
The process of draining and turning off all 22 pressurized irrigation stations is expected to take up to one week to complete. Homeowners with pressurized irrigation may go to the city website here to see if their subdivision's pressurized irrigation is active or inactive.
Pump stations are deactivated and winterized in October when the canal system is drained for the winter. Homeowners connected to pressurized irrigation are encouraged to do the following:
- Turn off sprinkler systems at the control box
- Close the valve connecting the home’s irrigation to the city pressurized irrigation line (typically located near the sidewalk of the residence) Residents who have cleared irrigation lines prior to Oct. 17 should remember to keep the valve closed to prevent recharge when the city clears its pressurized irrigation lines
- Clear any remaining water from the sprinkler lines to prevent freezing damage
About Pressurized Irrigation
In an effort to conserve limited water supplies from the aquifer, the city has partnered with the Twin Falls Canal Company to utilize water from the region’s canal system. The process draws water from the canals into nine settling ponds, which allow the natural separation of organic material from the water and provide wetland habitats. The water is then channeled into 22 smaller ponds with pump stations that deliver irrigation water to homes in Twin Falls. Because of its success in conserving limited water from the aquifer, all new subdivisions within the city limits must now be irrigated with pressurized irrigation.