[On average a pop-up station uses approximately 15 to 16 gpm.]
The average system uses approximately 15-16 gallons per minute, per station. Here is an easy formula to help you calculate the approximate amount of water you are using each month.
The answer is that it usually takes up to 30 minutes to get a half inch of water. Watering 3 times per week equals to an inch of water on a lawn.
Fixed spray heads apply 1.5 to 2 inches of water per hour in a fan-shaped spray. Rotors apply about 0.5 inches of water per hour in a single, rotating stream of water. Rotary nozzles apply approximately 0.4-0.6 inches per hour in multiple, rotating streams of water.
It is ideal to water lawns about one inch of water per week. To determine how long you need to water to get one inch, place a plastic container in your yard and set a timer. On average, it will take 30 minutes to get a half inch of water. So, 20 minutes, three times per week will give a lawn about an inch of water.
If your sprinkler output is 1½ inches per week, your sprinklers should run for only ⅓ hour or 20 minutes that week (½ divided by 1½). On a twice-weekly watering schedule, run your sprinklers 10 minutes each time.
Sprinklers generally cover up wider ground and spread out water at a slow yet steady pace, which makes all the soil moisturized evenly and soaked underground. A watering hose takes time to cover space and can clutter the soil if there's too much water.
Watering in the morning (before 10 a.m.) is the best time for your lawn; it's cooler and winds tend to be calmer so water can soak into the soil and be absorbed by the grass roots before it can evaporate.
Water Wisely
Most lawns need to be watered no more than three days a week in the spring as well as in the summer and two days a week in the fall. This watering schedule is recommended under normal water supply conditions.
Rotating pop up sprinklers have a more consistent stream of water and less run-off. So, they're great for irregular blocks, rocky soils, and garden beds. They usually come in 45- and 360-degree angles. You can position them at the edge or near a path and not worry about watering passersby.
Whereas a typical pop-up might need to run for 10 t0 15 minutes and could be using 9 litres per minute, some rotator type sprinklers that use 2.5 litres a minute might need to run for 40 minutes to get the desired result. Most sprinkler manufacturers publish precipitation rates and flow rates for their brands.
The average usage of water in a residential sprinkler system is between 12 – 30 gallons per minute depending on the type and size of the sprinkler head.
Between irrigation and natural rainfall, your grass should receive between 1 and 1.5 inches of water each week during the summer. Water deeply every other day for the best results. Your turf should receive about 1/3 an inch of water every two days in order to maintain deeper roots, thus helping protect against drought.
Be strategic about your watering to save money on your bill. Early morning is the best time — it's still cool, so all that valuable water won't evaporate in the hot sun. And don't think your grass needs watering every day.
Avoid watering grass on a hot afternoon when it's 95 degrees or higher. The best time to water grass is at dawn or in the early evening. Water deeply three times a week instead of a little water daily. Test whether your sprinkler system is watering your lawn evenly.
Not Adjusted to Properly Cover the Right Areas
If one sprinkler head sprays over another one, this leads to overwatering and wasted water and money. Your grass and plants will absorb what they need to survive. Water they don't need will sit and pool on the surface of your grass.
Drip irrigation is the most water-efficient way to irrigate many different plantings. It is an ideal way to water in clay soils because the water is applied slowly, allowing the soil to absorb the water and avoid runoff. Drip devices use a fraction of the water that overhead spray devices use.
Install sensors to shut off irrigation systems if it starts raining. Modify sprinkler patterns to match the lawn, garden, or decorative shrubs, and eliminate watering the driveway, parking, or pavement. Raise sprinkler heads that are blocked by shrubs or other foliage.
A common rule that is followed for obstructions within 18 inches of the sprinkler deflector is the “three times rule”. This requires sprinklers to be positioned away from obstructions a minimum or three times the maximum dimension of the obstruction.
Don't water everyday.
The more shallow your grass roots are, the less hearty it will be in hot weather. Instead water about two times per week for longer periods of time. The local lawn companies I have spoke with around my area (North Central Texas) recommend about 20-30 minutes per watering cycle twice a week.
Having your sprinkler set to run in the early morning ensures that your grass has time to absorb the water before the heatwave starting around noon.
One inch of water or rain is equivalent to 623 gallons per 1,000 square feet.
In general, your lawn needs 2 to 3 cm of water per week, so a good average is to water about 2 times a week, or even 3 in the warmer months. You can then adjust the watering frequency according to the age of your lawn. For example, if your lawn is several years old, one watering per week is sufficient.
“The big benefit is that you're getting water where it needs to go at a better flow rate. That's going to make the sprinklers more efficient and reduce waste,” Tejral said. Rotary sprinkler heads deliver streams of water at a slower rate than fixed-head nozzles.