Is it time to turn the sprinklers on? Check the Utah Division of Water Resources’ Weekly Lawn Watering Guide and find out. The guide is posted every Friday on the division’s Facebook page and website during irrigation season to help Utahns target water needs in each county. Utah has been in drought eight out of the last 10 years. We encourage all residents to check with their local water provider for restrictions.
“The guide takes extensive data based on weather patterns and evapotranspiration rates and simplifies it into how many days per week to water grass based on conditions in each county,” said Shelby Ericksen, the division’s conservation coordinator. “Keep in mind these are general county recommendations, and people need to monitor their landscape and make adjustments as needed.”
As temperatures heat up this week, 15 counties have been added to the “one irrigation per week” category for the first time this season. This is the first time this season every county has a watering recommendation.
April’s first lawn watering guide listed Washington County as the lone county with watering recommendations, with the rest of the state on hold because Mother Nature was delivering enough moisture. More counties have been added each week as temperatures rise and less rain is received. Some counties in Southern Utah are expecting temperatures in the 90’s this week and are recommended to water up to three times.
“Especially in the springtime, the guidelines vary weekly depending on what Mother Nature has in store, so we encourage people to check each week and make adjustments as needed,” said Ericksen. “Now is also a great time to test sprinkler systems and make repairs to ensure they are working efficiently.”
Also, if you have a smart irrigation controller, make sure it’s connected to Wi-Fi and receiving local weather data. If you don’t have a smart controller, visit utahwatersavers.com to find out how to qualify for money-saving rebates. If you have a programmable controller, set it to deliver the number of waterings needed for your area, or switch it to the manual setting and turn on your sprinklers as needed. Remember that even though it’s getting warmer, any rain we receive can decrease the number of times you should water.
While the watering guidelines are county-wide, individual landscapes can also have different soils and microclimates that may require adjustments to the posted watering schedule. Microclimates are caused by local differences in the amount of moisture, sun, shade, air movement and heat in your area.
“Because Utah is one of the driest states in the country, it’s important that we use water efficiently. The average yard uses about 3,000 gallons of water for each watering, so eliminating one watering yields significant savings,” said Ericksen. “Proper watering also helps avoid problems with pests and disease and reduces costs associated with overwatering, saving time and money.”
Area-specific watering information may also be available from local water providers.
About the Division of Water Resources
The Utah Division of Water Resources is one of seven divisions housed under the Department of Natural Resources. Tasked with planning, conserving, developing and protecting Utah’s water resources, the Division of Water Resources serves as Utah’s water steward. Visit water.utah.gov to learn more about the division.
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For more information, contact Michael Sanchez, public information officer, at 385.226.8967 or email masanchez@utah.gov.
Additional Resources
Water Check – Don’t think your sprinklers are getting the job done? Get a free water check to measure their efficiency.
Report Water Waste – Impressed or concerned? Report water abuse or awesome examples of waterwise use.
Utah Water Savers – From rebates to free landscape consultations, find out how to save both money and water.
H2Oath – Take Utah’s waterwise pledge and make a conservation difference.
