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Broken sprinkler heads can waste about 25,000 gallons in six months, Plano officials say
Summary
City of Plano sustainability staff urged monthly sprinkler checks, offered an online training and a summer incentive, and reminded residents of the local odd/even watering schedule to cut outdoor water waste.
Katie Walker, senior outreach and engagement coordinator for the City of Plano Sustainability Division, said broken or misaligned sprinkler heads can drive large household outdoor water waste and urged residents to check systems monthly. Andrea Chick, the city’s senior water conservation coordinator, told listeners that “about 25,000 gallons can be wasted in just 6 months or about 4,000 gallons a month if you have a broken sprinkler head running.”
Why it matters: Outdoor irrigation can account for a large share of residential water use, and identifying leaks or misaligned heads can reduce unnecessary runoff and waste.
Chick said the simplest step residents can take is “a monthly walk through while your sprinkler system is running so you can find and flag and fix any of those broken or misaligned sprinkler heads.” She promoted an online e-module, Water Water Everywhere, available at plano.gov/modules, which the city says teaches homeowners how to spot and repair common sprinkler problems.
The Sustainability Division is also offering a summer incentive tied to the e-learning: residents who complete the module can register for a chance to win a $25 water utility credit; the city selects one winner each month through August. Chick said, “If you complete it, you can register for, a chance to win a $25 water utility credit. We select 1 winner every month and we do that all the way through the August, so you have lots of time to participate.”
For repairs beyond a homeowner’s comfort level, Chick recommended hiring a licensed irrigator and pointed listeners to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for information on licensing. She also restated Plano’s watering schedule: “Mondays and Thursdays for even numbers and Tuesdays and Fridays for odd numbers,” and directed residents to plano.gov/watering or plano.gov/justwater for additional conservation tips.
Discussion: The transcript records education and outreach messages and does not include a policy change or a formal action by the city council. Recommendations described are outreach and behavioral guidance from the Sustainability Division.
For more information, the Sustainability Division directs residents to plano.gov/modules and plano.gov/watering.
