Homes connected to the City of Twin Falls’ Pressurized Irrigation system have started receiving water for the season, so homeowners are encouraged to check sprinkler systems for breaks and to set watering schedules to avoid overwatering.
All subdivisions on city irrigation are expected to have pressurized water no later than Tuesday, May 1. Residents can check the status of their subdivisions pressurized irrigation on the city’s website by selecting ‘Pressurized Irrigation Update’.
Homeowners who winterized their sprinkler systems will need to access a valve — generally near the sidewalk — for water to flow from the 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. Homeowners who need assistance repairing damaged sprinklers should contact a landscaping professional.
Residents are also asked to schedule watering times over a 24-hour period to avoid overwhelming pressurized irrigation stations. Pressurized irrigation stations can become overwhelmed when homeowners irrigate at the same time or for too long — typically during the evening and night. When this occurs, the irrigation station serving the subdivision will shut down and customers will receive little or no water to sprinklers systems.
To see the best time to irrigate in your subdivision, please refer to the City's PI Pressure and Flow. Red indicates over utilization and low water pressure, while green indicates low utilization and high water pressure (optimal time to irrigate).
The city’s pressurized irrigation system reduces demand on the Snake Plain aquifer’s limited water supply by utilizing canal water for non-potable purposes — it has reduced Twin Falls’ demand on the aquifer by more than 5 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