Smart Tech for Outdoor Watering

July is Smart Irrigation Month, making it the perfect time to take a fresh look at your outdoor watering system. At Santa Margarita Water District, we're here to help you water wisely. There are considerations for your home's long-term health as well as for your wallet.

Why It Matters
Traditional sprinklers can be surprisingly inefficient, especially when used in tight garden beds near your home. These systems often deliver water at a rate of 1-2 gallons per minute, much faster than most soils can absorb. When this excess water hits your walls or collects near the foundation, it can cause problems. This wastes a significant amount of precious water and can often lead to damage to your home over time.

That's precisely what happened to Larry, who lives in Mission Viejo. Their garden was beautiful; however, the spray irrigation system in narrow planter beds around their home was oversaturating the soil and soaking their stucco walls. Over the years, water began to seep past the weep screed and into the home, affecting interior walls and carpets. What started as a simple irrigation issue evolved into a much larger and more costly repair project.

Larry explains, "We pulled all the plants away from the house and placed eight inches of rocks underneath four inches of dirt around the entire foundation. This helps the water to get deeper into the soil and evaporate as needed. Our landscaper installed a drip irrigation system at the base of the plants to prevent excess water from collecting at the foundation of the home."

Following the installation of the drip conversion project, Larry no longer experienced water nuisance issues.

Larry said, "We are appreciative of what the (SMWD) Water Efficiency Specialist told us. They were the ones who brought the irrigation issue to our attention."

A Smarter Solution: Drip Irrigation
Drip irrigation is a targeted and efficient way to water your landscape-especially in smaller areas close to your home. Unlike traditional spray heads, drip systems deliver water slowly and directly to the base of plants, at a rate measured in gallons per hour, not gallons per minute.

Here are some of the benefits of a drip system:

• No overspray onto your walls, sidewalks, or windows
• No runoff or wasted water
• Better absorption by soil, which leads to healthier, happier plants

It's an excellent solution for planter beds near your home's foundation, where spray irrigation can do more harm than good.

Save Water-And Money
When Larry contacted Santa Margarita Water District's water use efficiency team, they introduced them to our Spray-to-Drip Conversion rebate program. Through this program, SMWD customers can receive $1 per square foot when they convert spray zones to efficient drip systems. Even better, this switch can reduce water use in the converted area by up to 50%.

How to Get Started
Upgrading your irrigation doesn't have to be complicated, and with a rebate available at SMWD.com/Rebates, it's more affordable than you might think. Here's how to get started:

1. Apply before you begin - Your rebate must be approved first
2. Review the drip irrigation guidelines - Make sure your project meets the program's specifications
3. Save your receipts - If you hire a contractor or purchase materials yourself, documentation is key
4. Finish within 60 days - Projects must be completed within two months of approval

Smart irrigation isn't just about saving water-it's about protecting your home, landscaping more efficiently, and taking pride in a system that works with nature, not against it.

Let this Smart Irrigation Month serve as a reminder to rethink how, when, and where you water.

Visit SMWD.com/Rebates or contact our Water Use Efficiency team at [email protected] or (949) 459-6593 to learn more about rebates, resources, and expert guidance tailored to your property.

Join us on July 17 at the Outdoor Watering Expo to learn more about how to install drip irrigation on your property. Register here or at SMWD.com/Events.