Water usage?
 

Hi all, I need a general consensus on water usage. I live in a patio villa. The sprinkler system has three sections which are on 15 minutes each two times a week. My water usage bill for reclaimed water is close to 8000 gallons for a month and that seems extremely high. Does anybody know where to find the reclaimed water meter so I can check it when everything‘s off to make sure that I don’t have a leak. Or does this seem about right? Also my personal water usage seems high 2700 gallons a month for just one person so I would like to check that meter too.

Page 3 of the May 9 District Weekly Bulletin has information on typical water usage.

I don't live in a patio villa so I can't help with the meter location. With two of us in the home and a smaller lawn watered twice a week at about 20mins for each of the four zones my monthly usage is:
Potable water: a little less than 2,000gals
Irrigation water: average of about 6,000 gals with peak months at 10,000 and low months around 3,500

I’d you have popups the amount of water per minute/hours can be measured and calculated. If you have large amount of runoff (running down street) might consider reducing run time some? IMO 45 mins two time week run time not that far off.

Funny, I’m a retired financial controller, and I never thought about doing the math…. Thanks for the website info. I checked that prior to the post. I find these websites underestimate usage and make me feel guilty.

Your water usage seems a little high. I have a villa and use about 1,000 gallons of potable water and 4,000 gallons of irrigation water. However, I only use irrigation water for about 5 minutes in the shrub areas and 20 minutes in the grass area, two times per week. I would suggest that you view a few of your neighbors water bills by searching their addresses on districtgov.org. Water bills are public information. Also, I would suggest that you check your toilets because they are the most likely cause for leaks in a house. The gasket at the bottom of the canister inside the toilet tank needs to be replaced on a regular basis.

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Your irrigation meters are buried in your lawn area….probably near the front or side of your villa. It may be covered over by grass or some type of landscaping materials (pine straw) So tap down on the areas (with a stick or pole)to find it. You should also have at least one if not two cut off valves. One for reclaimed water and the other potable.

You should really, really measure how much water your irrigation system (by zone) puts out. Finding an average from other villa owners on this forum could be wasteful.

To do this put out cups or cans around your yard and measure out the accumulated water. If you have St Augustine grass, you need a minimum of 1” of water per week. I think 1.5” is best over a 3 times per week schedule.

Ok let do the math, you water 20 mins twice week he waters 45 mins twice s week? He uses 8000 gallons of water you use 5000 Gallons one of water? The answer is. ________. Sounds He watering 25 minutes longer and using less water than you’re 20 mins watering?

Not exactly. I water 30 minutes (3 zones: 5 minutes, + 5 minutes + 20 minutes) two times per week, and use 4,000 gallons of irrigation water per month. He waters 45 minutes (15 + 15 + 15) two times per week and uses 8,000 gallons per month. So, he is watering for more minutes, and is using 3,000 gallons of water more than I am. I doubt that he has a leak. I think he could save some water by reducing the watering times for the shrub areas because they shouldn't need as much water as the grass.

I have a patio villa. I had new sod put down in front of house. I have been running front irrigation more to help get it growing. My last water report for irrigation was 6000 gallons. I think yours is very high.

I just looked at my timer: 60 minutes per run (five zones rather than three), two runs per week and I use approx. 6,000 gals per month.

30 mins -> 4,000 gals -> 133 gals/minute avg over all runs
45 mins -> 8,000 gals -> 178 gals/minute avg over all runs
60 mins -> 6,000 gals -> 100 gals/minute avg over all run

Mine is likely lower due to fewer heads in each zone; I have long, narrow lawn areas requiring more zones but fewer heads.

If the 45 minutes and two times per week is accurate (no extra watering for new sod, no extra watering for high temps) then 178 does seems high.

Another thing to look for would be a missing/broken head. A geyser in the lawn could account for a bit of extra water.

8,000 gallons does sound high. I previously had a patio villa and typically used 3,000 irrigation gallons per month. Then one day I received a bill stating I used 22,000 gallons that month. I checked for leaks. There were none. I made several calls to the water dept, transferred and put on hold then would be told someone would get back to me. They never did. After many attempts to get someone at the water dept to help me I finally connected with a rep who agreed to send out someone to check the meter. It was determined the meter was broken and it got replaced. No problems since.

I highly recommend people try to let nature do its thing and stop their irrigation system for a while. Mine has been off for years and the grass is fine. It's Florida, things grow VERY WELL!!!

I live alone in a Courtyard Villa. Similar watering schedule. In the same period, irrigation water was 1630 gallons and in-home water use was 1020 gallons. Apart from the base charge we all pay, my water use charge totaled just under $6. My SECO bill was $95, keeping the AC at 73° 24/7. Not bad! You may have a leak. When I had a home with a pool and a much bigger lawn here a couple years ago, my water usage was around 12,000 gallons per month.