South Lake Tahoe, CA (May 6, 2025) – With spring in full swing and summer just around the corner, it's time to get your irrigation system ready for action. Before you ramp up your watering, take a moment to spruce up your sprinkler system. Follow these four simple steps: inspect, connect, direct, and select.

Inspect – Inspect your irrigation system for missing or broken sprinkler heads and/or broken pipes. Turn on each sprinkler station/zone to see how everything is operating.

Connect - Leaks can also occur at the joints between sprinklers and the piping. Examine points where the sprinkler heads connect to pipes/hoses. If water is pooling in your landscape or you have large wet or dry area, you could have a leak in your system.

Direct - Are you watering the driveway, house, or sidewalk instead of your yard? Direct sprinklers to apply water to your lawn and plants. Make sure to check for clogged, blocked, misdirected, and improper spray patterns and adjust as necessary.

Select - An improperly scheduled irrigation controller can waste water and money. Update your system’s watering schedule monthly or select a WaterSense labelled irrigation controller and apply for South Tahoe Public Utility District’s irrigation controller rebate.

Make sure your irrigation clock is set to run the right day, and the right way. South Tahoe Public Utility District water customers have designated watering days: even numbered street addresses water Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; odd numbered street addresses water Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday.

Need to water daily to establish freshly applied seed or newly planted flowers? No problem, apply for irrigation days exemption at stpud.watersmart.com.

For help inspecting, troubleshooting, scheduling, and/or selecting upgrades for your irrigation system, contact South Tahoe Public Utility District for a FREE Water Wise Landscape Consultation.  For more info or to sign up, call (530) 544-6474 or visit stpud.watersmart.com.