Columbia Basin Conservation District offers free irrigation audits in Moses Lake area

Moses Lake — The Columbia Basin Conservation District presented a new, grant-funded urban water efficiency program that will offer free irrigation audits and recommendations to households, public agencies and other property owners in the Grand Adams County area.

Conservation planner Griffin Hansen described the program as a free, zone-by-zone assessment of sprinkler systems that includes site information, system health and system efficiency. Hansen explained a standard "catch cup" test to measure inches per hour of irrigation, mapping of irrigation zones, and a written recommendation that can be used by homeowners or managers to plan repairs or upgrades. "This is kind of a water audit for the sprinkler systems," Hansen said.

Hansen said the program starts in May and is funded by a federal grant administered through the National Association of Conservation Districts; the audits are free to participants. Council and staff asked about outreach and cost: Hansen said the district has already explored a water-utility bill insert and estimates the printing cost at less than $500 to produce 1,000 three-page inserts, and that the district plans an initial mailing to customers who trigger the city’s excess-use charge.

City staff and council discussed scale: Moses Lake has about 10,000 utility customers on the city’s billing rolls and an estimated 9,500 customers could be mailed information once addresses are refined. Hansen said property owners can sign up via the conservation district’s website or by email and that the program pairs with other district offerings, including a heritage‑gardens program that promotes water-wise plantings.

No council action was required; the presentation concluded with staff and council thanking the conservation district for the program.