Residences connected to the City of Twin Falls’ Pressurized Irrigation system started receiving water this week for the 2019 season, and all Pressurized Irrigation stations are expected to be online by Wednesday, May 1. Homeowners connected to city irrigation are encouraged to check their sprinkler systems for breaks and to set watering schedules to avoid overwatering.
Residents can check the status of their subdivisions pressurized irrigation on the city’s website at tfid.org and 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. 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 too many homeowners irrigate at the same time — typically during the evening and night. When this occurs, irrigation stations use more water than can be replenished from the canal system, and will shut down to prevent pump damage.
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 nearly 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