Too much pressure is a bad thing – for us, our garden sprinklers, and ultimately for California’s water supply.

Most spray head sprinklers are set for about 30 pounds per square inch. But the water flowing into the system is frequently higher – causing them to mist and overspray, which wastes significant amounts water.

That’s why California this month began requiring that all irrigation spray sprinkler bodies sold in stores be pressure-regulated for better efficiency.

The new spray bodies cost a few dollars more, but they can be up to 40% more efficient, depending on the age of the sprinklers they are replacing.

With about half of all the state’s drinking water used for irrigation, that adds up to a lot of savings.

By 2030 – once most homes have installed the new devices – California expects a statewide savings of 152 billion gallons of water a year. That’s more water than it takes to serve the entire city of San Diego. Water efficiency translates to savings on your water bill.

There is no requirement to rush out and replace your spray head sprinklers all at once. The new regulation anticipates that much of the transformation will happen over time as individual units get replaced. (Sprinklers last an average of 10 years.)

When purchasing these spray bodies, be sure they are marked with the WaterSense logo. For more information, visit epa.gov/watersense/spray-sprinkler-bodies.

As part of California’s fourth annual Water Professionals Appreciation Week, Irvine Ranch Water District is pleased to celebrate the people who provide safe, plentiful water and reliable sewer service.

“Water Professionals Appreciation Week is a great time to say thank you to IRWD’s talented and dedicated employees,” General Manager Paul Cook said. “Now more than ever, as we work through the pandemic, we provide a truly essential service for our community.”

Recent labor studies estimate California’s water industry employs 60,000 people and needs about 6,000 new employees each year due to turnover. The industry offers a wide variety of rewarding career opportunities in engineering, biology, finance, business administration, law, communications and more.

Water Professionals Appreciation Week — Oct. 3–11 this year — was established by the state Senate in 2017. The measure was sponsored by a coalition of water associations led by the Association of California Water Agencies, WateReuse California, California Municipal Utilities Association, California Association of Sanitation Agencies, and California Water Association. The annually designated week begins on the first Saturday of October and ends on Sunday of the following weekend.

Smart technology offers several new add-on devices that can monitor and send you real-time alerts about your water use. Some will shut off the water to your home if a leak is detected.

If you are looking into getting one of these devices, take heed: IRWD does not permit the type affixed to the water meter. If we find one, or any other unauthorized equipment inside the meter box, we will remove it.

Why? IRWD owns the water meter, the meter box and everything inside it. We prohibit tampering of any kind within the box because we need to ensure unimpeded access to the meter as a part of our ongoing operations.

Section 12.4 of the District’s Rules and Regulations states, “Customer owned smart metering equipment installed on District meters is prohibited as set forth in section 4.7 of these Rules and Regulations.” Furthermore, section 4.71 states, “Installation by anyone other than the District of any equipment installed in a District facility, including a meter box or pressure regulating valve (PRV) vault onto any meter or PRV, is ‘tampering.’ This includes but is not limited to leak detection equipment, flow sensors, batteries or antennas. If any unpermitted equipment is installed it will be removed by District staff.”

What type of flow monitoring device should you consider?

If you are thinking about investing in a home water monitoring system, limit yourself to those installed between your property line and your home.

Some attach to the outside of the pipe, and others are installed in-line with the pipe so the water flows through them.

The real-time information provided by this technology can benefit customers because it tracks water use and encourages efficiency.

And, when it comes to preventing flooding in your home, devices with the water shutoff function provide added security that could save you from the grief of costly water damage repairs.

• Where’s your meter box? How does the meter work? Learn more here.

Local firefighters warn that wildfire risks are on the rise. So take control of your vulnerabilities. How you maintain and landscape the five feet around your home or business can make a big difference.

• Keep the corners of the building clear of combustible materials.
• Use noncombustible mulch, such as rock.
• Keep the lawn properly irrigated and use low-growing, non-woody plants. Shrubs and trees are not recommended in the five-foot zone.
• Remove dead vegetation and avoid the accumulation of fallen leaves, needles, and other flammable materials.

Learn more:

• For additional advice, see this flier from Cal Fire and the Newport Beach Fire Department.
• Assess your home’s fire vulnerability and read tips from the O.C. Fire Authority.
• Learn how IRWD stays prepared — and how you can too.