Shocking irrigation water bill
 

We just moved to TV about 7 weeks ago. We are not at all familiar with irrigation systems or proper watering/timer settings. We had an "expert" from Superior Services come and check the system and to set the zones up with proper settings. He also bypassed the rain sensor. I suspect his setup was way overkill as we also received a letter from CSU noting the high irrigation water usage this last month.

Can someone suggest ballpark settings for frequency and minutes during summer months for Zoysia grass zones and shrubbery zones?

Many thanks in advance for your suggestions.

I get these letters all the time. They are false. Ignore it. But to be safe, don't bypass your sensor.

Why would they bypass the rain sensor? it’s best to read the manual and set the irrigation times up yourself and manually shut if off when it rains. If you’re snow bird you will have to try several irrigation experts to get the way you want it. There big difference in recycled irrigation water and city water price. Another thing you may have leak? I doubt the irrigation system should run more that three times in 9 days. If it’s running everyday and water ruining down the street for hour then that’s you're problem, You’re wasting water runoff when it runs down the street for half hour or more IMO. When my irrigation system runs no water runoff.

Do have an interior, corner or pie shaped lot? Do you have a designer home?

With knowing nothing about your lot size or how green you want your lawn the average May water consumption is about 14,000 gallons. This is based upon over 40 irrigation years looked at of public records on water usage in TV.

Asking a 'irigation expert' is like asking how often should I change my oil. It is a meaningless opinion.

What I would do is install a Rachio irrigation controller less than 200.00 on Amazon. You punch in lawn type, soil type, slope. It calculates evaporation rate, checks with the weather service if it will rain, if it has rained, total irrigation for that zone including rain, checks if it is saturated. It changes the time based upon season. As a computer it doesn't have an opinion, just the facts to work with.

We set each zone (grass or shrubs) for 20 minutes, once per week, and turn off manually if it has rained the day before irrigation.

Our monthly usage (inside and out) is 3-4,000 gallons.

Congratulations, that's great. From the data I have analyzed less than 50k gallons annually for an interior designer lot (5,200 sq ft) is quite rare.

The average potable water is very close to 3100 gallons for an occupied month for a couple.

I have figured out how to cut potable water but not irrigation. Across the board, 8900 to 5,100 sq ft lots, uber green lawns to brown lawns the average is 133,000 gallons annually. But usage varies wildly from 40k to 280k annually.

All rotor nozzles are different GMP (gallon per minute) and interchangeable. No times will be the same for all homes or even each zone.
A corner rotor that only turns 90deg can have a less GPM nozzle than one that turns 180deg.
To find the optimal time for each zone, place 5-6 shallow cans (tuna size) spread out around the zone.
They should collect 1/2"-3/4" water each watering.
If you take the steps to fine tune your system you can save water.
Note most irrigation companies won't do this, and just leave in whatever GMP nozzle comes with the rotor.
Lots of info online about tuning a system.
This place has all the parts you need:
Sprinkler Warehouse

During the rainy season I would turn off the sprinklers and only turn them on when you go for a few days with no rain.
My rain sensor turns the system back on too soon - a few hours - after a rain so it does not do any good to use it.
For the first few years of a new lawn you need to water deep so the roots go down into the soil. After a few years you can cut back on the water.
Go on line and look up your instruction manual.
How many zones, how long do you have then set to run, how many days, how much water do you use?
Also turn your system on and check each head to see that they are working correctly. I have to fix one about once a year or a little more offen.
The run time for a zone depends on the type of sprinkler head you have. If they are new you probably need 90 minutes on a new lawn. What you are trying to do is to put down about an inch or inch and 1/2 of water slowly. Not sure about the inches, seems high as I write this so maybe some one else can comment. You can put out some cans to catch the water and measure how much water you are using. I think the Central Florida University is a good site to check on landscaping and I think they have free help.

Irrigation
 

There are many kinds of sprinkler heads and heights. You may be in a home with what I would call "Standard Villages Irrigation" which frankly may or may not be the most efficient for your lot. I suggest you contact a number of reputable irrigation companies, invest the $35 "inspection fee" and see what they say. PM me if you would like and I'll tell you which one we have used successfully.

OP here, to answer a few questions, we have a corner lot but not large, maybe 8,000 sq ft., with a designer home approx. 2000 sq. ft. Last statement said we used 40,000 gallons. No water running down street and no apparent leaks that I can see. System was checked and all heads function properly and are aimed correctly. System set up to water 3 days per week. I am thinking cut back watering to twice per week. I have already turned the water sensor back on.

if any one has watered using irrigation in the last week (Today is 6/13) , you have over watered. 3 times this week is 3 times too much.

General rule of thumb (you can then adjust) twice a week for 30 minutes each zone.

Be sure you don't have multiple programs running (A, B, etc.). That is usually the issue when friends ask me why they are using so much water. A zone runs when they think, and the other ones are usually running at night when they don't see them.

The text on controllers is usually so small that it is easy to miss a "dot" by one of the other programs.

Even a reset (with removal of battery) failed to cancel all of mine, so I had to do it manually.

Based upon my research for a corner lot, you can cut this to 24,000 gallons for the hottest months. Could go lower if you can tolerate some heat stressed lawn.

Please note, that if your system has a "solar sync" sensor on your roof, you cannot set permanent specific watering times for your sprinkler heads. You can set watering times, and set the "seasonal adjustment" on 100 percent. But, then the "solar sync" sensor will take control of your system and automatically increase or decrease your watering times by changing the "seasonal adjustment" setting, based on climate conditions. This is very complicated, and the only way to really understand the system is to go on line and download the Hunter controller manual for your specific model. For example, if the solar sync sensor adjusts the seasonal adjustment setting to 50 percent, your watering times will be reduced to half the time that you set them for. I have found that many of the so called sprinkler experts, who adjust the systems, do not understand how these Hunter controllers really function.

They have NO,NO,NO, NO"expert" from Superior Services . Read up and learn the system period. if your rain sensor is shutting off to soon change your corks in the roof sensor, they are drying out and probably have fungus and mold on them. they should be changed once a year ( about 7 bucks. central pump in Leesburg is the hunter rep. its not rocket science and needs to be altered regular due to climate change. I cringe this months bill will be due to the 3 weeks with no rain and 95 degree weather. setting these units even with the solar sync and walking away for 3 months doesn't cut it and they need continuous tweaking depending on certain parts of your lawn not doing well assuming that you have the correct heads and coverage. not to mention the heads need frequent maintenance also. furthermore to turn off your rain sensor without troubleshooting it for problems is a bone head move. good luck.
p.s. if you have Zoyia god help you, it is a endless cycle of treatment and correct watering! all these brown spots are either sod worm(moths all over the place) moll crickets. Fungus etc... take your pick when you have brown and dead spots, including over watering and rotting the root system.

Neighbor #1 corner lot, 'water until it is green' total usage 2018, 186,880 gallons. Highest month September 27,140 gallons. June 2018:13,280, 2017; 19,290. Lawn looks great all the time.


Neighbor #2 corner lot, 'I don't care about cost of water' total usage 2018; 248,950 gallons Highest July 42,370 gallons. June 2018; 13,260; 2017; 19,940. Lawn/yard looks overgrown.

Neighbor #3 corner lot, 'water is expensive' total 2018: 22,820; 2017: 36,920. Highest, October: 5,390. June: 3,560. Off four months a year. Lawn looks horrible except for rainy season.

All lots over 8,000 sq ft, zoysia.

I have used Joe Tucker and Jim Baumgardener to repair and check the irrigation system and to fine tune, and would recomment both of them.

Truly simple
 

Water use depends on, how much you water. When it is hot and dry, little rain, you need to water more to keep your grass green.
Obviously, a larger lawn will need more water to cover than a smaller one. Then run time to apply what you have decided is the needed amount of water depends on the heads you have and the water pressure you have.

You can not worry about all the above. Scatter cans around you lawn. Washed cat food, tuna type cans work great and you can easily measure how much water comes out in a known time as well as how evenly your lawn is covered. Once you know the problems, you can find and correct the issue. You could have blocked heads.
Missing heads-they are often hit by mowers or plants blocking the head pattern.

As to cost. We actually have at least two different systems in The Villages. In the north they are using drinking quality water for lawn irrigation. In the southern sections it is reclaimed water that is not purified enough to drink-a separate system al together.
On the reclaimed system those who use more water actually pay more per gallon. Sort of like a graduated tax. Your price per gallon starts at the least expensive rate and as you use up each block, it goes to the next higher rate per gallon. If, you call your water supplier surely they can explain it, better than I, tailored to your particular bill.

We use Jim (352-504-2317) and have found him responsive and capable

The term "reclaimed water" is often used to describe treated waste water from a sewage treatment plant. If this is what you mean, "reclaimed water" is not used for residential irrigation in The Villages. It is, however, used for golf course irrigation.

What is a good substitute native plant for these grasses that does not need watering? The irrigation in TV seems to not only cost a lot of money but also probably contributes to sinkholes. In the city my front lawn is beautifully landscaped no special watering required. A little weeding, a little mulch. Done.

Too, bad we can't use "astro" turf, in most of the postage stamp was in TV , it would be a very economical & eco-friendly way to go, no mowing, no irrigation, no fertilization, no weeds, etc--

I thought artificial turf was allowed. When I first moved in, I got a quote for it, but it was very expensive.

What would have been break even, subtract irrigation, subtract maintenance & mowing-we have to spend @ least $2000./year in 10 yrs e have spent $20K

We have replaced virtually all of our grass with Asian jasmine. It stays low (there is also a dwarf version) and covers the ground quickly, blocking out the weeds. The Villages uses it a lot around trees. We have been able to drop Massey pest control and green up, and cut watering times in half.

We presented a plan of the garden to Architectural Review, who are very keen on things like this and approved it at their next weekly meeting.

You should not water over two times a week in the summer (and have system off most or all of the rainy season) and one time in the winter months.

We have a similar situation (corner lot, not large, designer approximately 2000 sq ft). In May we used 13,500 gallons for irrigation.

That's for four zones, 2 cover large areas of the lawn, one covers a smaller lawn area plus some shrubs and the other covers only shrubs. The first 3 are set to run 45 minutes. The latter 25. We water twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays per the schedule prescribed for our lot on The Villages Water Wisdom site (Am I the only one who follows that?).
--
bc

Most likely, 3 x a weeks 41 minutes for 3 zones, 4 th zone 20 minutes for shrubs

With Solar Sync active and set at default "3 5" (this will give you typically 50% of your total runtime), set turf to 40 min. and plants to 15 min. Set to run every other day. You can usually just turn off the system from mid-June to mid-Sept. May and October, set it to run everyday.

Try that.

Could the OP tell us what they think a high bill is for irrigation is a shocking amount since they never had a home with one before, especially in Florida.

Shocking irrigation water bill
 

Edit: sorry, seemed to have quoted your wrong post but you get the idea. :)

I have a similar controller but their rain delays are wacky because when it says it rained 75% of the time it never did. They have no idea if it rained in Amelia vs Virginia Trace. Around here you can get 4” at LSL but 1/8” half mile away. Other then that they are great. I look at my weather station and use that and add my own rain delay. If I went with their rain delay I’d probably only water 1/5 the needed time OR 10x more than necessary.


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OK, OP here, I think it is obvious from my second post that I felt 40,000 gallons for one month was a "shocking" amount of water usage and the bill was also a "shocking" amount to me. I thank all the people who have given useful ideas, suggestions, and examples of typical water usage. To your comment above, I just shake my head and wonder what purpose you have in trying to belittle my post.

Not sure the hysteria is warranted given many Villagers blow $75. a month on golf balls.

Belittle ? I was just curious.

25,000 gallons would be high with your lot size. May and October are brutal (95F, 35%H, 10MPH) on biolife so you should run the sprinkler everyday under those conditions.

Here is video instructions for the controller unit:
Pro-C Basic: 01, Setting Date and Time | Hunter Industries

ProC manual:
https://www.hunterindustries.com/sit...OM_ProC_EM.pdf

You need to dial to "Seasonal Adjust" and set that to "100" before setting your zone "Run Times". The solar sync will adjust the seasonal adjust value to typically "50" everyday at midnight calculated on rolling weather conditions...usually from "20" to "70".

My irrigation for average size lot was 4,500 gal last month with sprinklers on 3 days a week and I thought that was too much. I have read that using a lot of water can contribute to the formation of sink holes so I’m trying to use the least amount that the grass and shrubs really need.

I received a letter stating that my recent meter reading exceeded the usage that is considered normal. It was 35 000 gallons. But it was during that hot dry spell where I had the setting on two days a week for eight of the nine zones.

I consider it a no brainier to keep the lawn and shrubbery looking good and not stressed. Won't see a letter next month though. Quite a change in the weather [emoji939].



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No one can tell you time settings for zones over the internet. Someone has to come to your home and set zone times appropriate to locations. For example, shade area need less time than areas with sun most of the day. North side may need lees time than south. Have someone with experience set your system. Also have someone train you as you may have to make adjustments as it needs.

My system is only watering my Zoysia grass 5 minutes, two times a week, and it is growing like crazy, with no shade.