6 Signs Your Sprinkler System Is Wasting Water
An irrigation system can waste water in ways that aren't always obvious — quietly inflating your bill while your yard looks fine. Spotting the signs lets you fix the waste and save money. Here are six signs your sprinkler system is wasting water.
1. Water running down the gutter
Runoff onto sidewalks and into the street means you're applying water faster than the soil can absorb it — classic on Inland Empire clay. Cycle-and-soak scheduling fixes it.
2. Overspray on hardscape
Heads spraying the driveway, walls, or fence are watering concrete, not plants. Adjusting the pattern and radius keeps water where it belongs.
3. Misting heads
A fine mist instead of droplets means pressure is too high — that mist drifts away and evaporates. A pressure regulator solves it.
4. Watering at the wrong time
Running sprinklers midday (high evaporation) or in the heat of the afternoon wastes a large share of the water. Early morning is far more efficient.
5. A fixed year-round schedule
Running the same runtimes in spring and fall as in summer drastically overwaters. Seasonal adjustment — or a smart controller — eliminates this.
6. Wet spots and a high bill
Soggy areas, a moving meter with everything off, or an unexplained bill spike point to a leak quietly wasting water underground.
Fix the waste
Each of these is fixable, often inexpensively, and pays back quickly in lower bills. Our water management team can audit your system and stop the waste.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if my sprinklers waste water?
Look for runoff, overspray on pavement, misting, midday watering, fixed schedules, and soggy spots — all signs of waste.
What's the easiest way to reduce sprinkler waste?
Adjust heads to stop overspray, water before dawn, use cycle-and-soak, and add a smart controller for automatic seasonal adjustment.
Arbol Roble has cared for Inland Empire landscapes since 1997, serving Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, Fontana, Eastvale, Corona and Riverside. Request a free quote or browse our residential and commercial services.
About the Author
The Arbol Roble team are licensed landscaping and irrigation professionals (CSLB License #1077455) serving Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, Fontana, Eastvale, Corona, Riverside, and the greater Inland Empire.