Residences connected to the City of Twin Falls’ Pressurized Irrigation system will begin receiving water for the 2020 season on Monday, April 13. Homeowners connected to pressurized irrigation are encouraged to check sprinkler filters for buildup, lines for breaks, and set watering schedules to avoid overwatering.
Residents can check the status of their subdivisions pressurized irrigation on the city’s website at tfid.org by selecting ‘Pressurized Irrigation Update.’
Homeowners who winterized their sprinkler systems will need to open a valve — generally near the sidewalk — for water to flow from city pressurized irrigation lines to the home’s sprinkler system. Once activated, residents should check for damaged sprinkler heads, ‘bulging’ lawn turf that may indicate an underground leak, and spots that feel spongy due to overwatering.
Pressurized irrigation stations can be overwhelmed when too many homes irrigate at the same time — typically during the early morning, evening, and at night. When this occurs, irrigation stations use more water than can be provided from the canal system, and will shut down to prevent pump damage.
To prevent pump shutdowns, homeowners should water only on designated watering days, and spread out watering-times over a 24-hour period. For example, schedule three 10-minute intervals that are three hours apart. Homeowners should also follow the City Water Conservation Schedule.
The city’s pressurized irrigation system reduces demand on the aquifer’s limited water supply by utilizing canal water for non-potable purposes — on average it has reduced Twin Falls’ demand on the aquifer by more than 6 million gallons per day. Pressurized irrigation water is not safe to drink, as it comes from an open canal system and it is not treated.
For more information about pressurized irrigation, please visit the city’s website at tfid.org or call 208-736-2275