How Can You Tell If Your Irrigation System Is Using Too Much Water?

Drip irrigation can help your garden stay green by delivering water to plants and crops. The system is designed to efficiently provide plants with the required water to promote plant growth via emitters, driplines, polyethylene tubing, and timers. However, if part of your system is damaged, it could use more water than necessary and create a significant mark on your water bill. So, how can you tell if your irrigation system uses too much water? Read on to discover more.

Signs that your irrigation system is using too much water

If you don't adequately maintain your irrigation system or spot any damage, you could waste staggering amounts of water. In fact, according to research, these households are subject to waste of up to 25,000 gallons every year.

So, now that you know how crucial poorly maintained drip irrigation systems can be let's look at how you can spot one.

Weed Growth

If an excessive number of weeds are growing in your garden, it may be because of excessive watering or leaks in your system. After all, weeds tend to grow rapidly in moist conditions. Reduce your watering times and check for broken or missing fittings or emitters. Ensure your driplines and emitters are targeting only the areas that need watering.

Soggy Areas

Soggy or waterlogged parts of your garden may suggest that overwatering is occurring, especially if you notice this consistently. Overwatering damages fine roots and prevents the plant from taking up water. Check for any drainage issues and fix them. Cut back on your watering times or switch to low-flow emitters.

Excessive runoff

If water frequently pools off your landscape or trickles down into the street, this could be another sign that your drip irrigation system is overwatering more than your plants and soil can absorb. You can avoid irrigation runoff by following a few different tactics. Try breaking up your watering cycle into several smaller periods, spaced out to allow water to absorb into the soil. You reduce water runoff by allowing the water to infiltrate the soil slower.

Plant yellowing

Water stress can trigger your plants to go yellow and wilt, suggesting they receive more water than they can handle.

Staggering water bills

If you see no other signs that your irrigation system uses too much water, your water bills will show. There's no doubt that irrigation issues can impact your water bills, and a sudden spike could suggest that your system is using up more water than required. This means it would be wise to observe your system and check for leaks.

So, there you have it. There are many signs you can look out for when figuring out if your drip irrigation system is using more water than it should, and there are also plenty of ways to address this issue. You should monitor your system regularly to ensure it is functioning as it should or upgrade to more efficient technologies if you believe your system is not working optimally.

Check out our range of irrigation kits to start your drip irrigation journey today! Additionally, don't hesitate to look at our videos for extra guidance on everything to do with gardening.