Water: A Precious Resource in Southern California – Are You Wasting It?
Water is one of the most valuable and limited resources in Southern California, and recent wildfires have reinforced just how crucial it is to manage it wisely. While fire damage is devastating, the next challenge for many properties is recovery—restoring landscapes while ensuring water efficiency. If your property is experiencing excessive irrigation repairs or rising water bills, it may be time to evaluate your irrigation system and make strategic improvements that lead to long-term savings and sustainability.
Why An Irrigation Audit?
An outdated or inefficient irrigation system wastes water and increases costs. Stay Green provides complimentary irrigation audits at the start of every new contract and recommends periodic check-ins as part of a preventative maintenance plan. Just like a car needs regular tune-ups to perform efficiently, your irrigation system requires routine assessments to ensure optimal functionality. Our audits identify leaks, inefficient zones, outdated controllers, and overwatering issues. By making the right short-term upgrades, you can see significant long-term benefits, including:
- Lower Water Bills – Optimizing irrigation schedules and fixing inefficiencies reduce water consumption and prevent costly overuse.
- Healthier Landscapes – Smart watering ensures plants and turf receive the right amount of hydration, preventing damage from drought stress or excess moisture.
- Fewer Repairs & Less Downtime – Upgrading components and maintaining your system proactively minimizes breakdowns and emergency repairs.
- Regulatory Compliance – Water restrictions and conservation policies are constantly evolving. Modernized irrigation helps keep your property in line with state and local regulations.
What’s Included in an Irrigation Audit?
A thorough irrigation audit goes beyond checking for leaks—it provides a comprehensive assessment of your system’s efficiency, ensuring that water is being used effectively while minimizing waste. Here’s what Stay Green evaluates during an audit:
- Water Distribution & Coverage – We assess whether your irrigation system is delivering water evenly across all landscaped areas. Uneven coverage can result in dry patches or overwatered zones, both of which can harm plant health and increase water costs.
- System Functionality – Every component of your irrigation system, from sprinkler heads to valves and pressure regulators, is inspected to ensure optimal operation. We identify clogged nozzles, misaligned heads, or malfunctioning valves that may be wasting water.
- Smart Controller Optimization – Modern irrigation controllers can drastically improve water efficiency, but only when programmed correctly. We evaluate your current settings, adjust schedules based on weather patterns, and ensure the system is running at peak efficiency.
- Leak Detection & Pressure Testing – Leaks and pressure issues can lead to excessive water waste and costly repairs. We test the system’s water pressure and inspect for underground leaks that may not be immediately visible.
- Runoff & Drainage Assessment – Overwatering or poor system design can lead to water pooling and runoff, wasting valuable resources and potentially damaging property. Our team checks for areas of excessive runoff and recommends solutions to improve drainage and soil absorption.
- Zone-Specific Adjustments – Not all areas of your property require the same amount of water. We analyze irrigation zones to ensure that turf, shrubs, and trees each receive the appropriate amount of moisture for their needs.
A well-maintained irrigation system is a key investment in water conservation and landscape health. By identifying inefficiencies early, Stay Green helps you save water, lower costs, and maintain a healthier landscape year-round.
Take Action Now
In the wake of the recent fires, smart water management is more important than ever. If you haven’t had an irrigation audit recently, now is the time to schedule one. Routine system check-ups ensure your landscape thrives while conserving water for the future. Stay Green’s irrigation audits are a proactive way to prevent unnecessary water waste and costly repairs before they happen.
Talk to your Account Manager today about scheduling an irrigation audit.