Reminder: check sprinkler settings ahead of summer heat

Avoid unexpected high water bills by checking your sprinkler programming ahead of the hot, dry summer season.  Pasco County Utilities is reminding everyone that even a momentary power loss from a power surge or lightning strike can be enough to reset timers to factory default settings, resulting in higher-than-usual water bills.

“Many people were affected by power loss in the wake of Hurricane Irma, but checking sprinkler settings might be the last thing on your mind,” said Customer Service Administrator for Pasco County Utilities Sandra Anderson.  “Providing this reminder is essential to helping our neighbors avoid unintentional high usage and unexpected high water bills.”

One of the most common factory default modes for sprinklers is a daily watering schedule.  Although many sprinkler systems contain backup batteries, they can still fail to retain date, time, or sprinkler settings in the event of extended power outages.

Pasco County has lawn watering restrictions of once a week – twice a week for reclaimed water customers.

Visit: bitly.com/pascolawn for watering tips and online tutorials including:

• The correct watering day according to the last number in your street address.
• How to check watering amounts with a tuna can calibration.
• Information for micro-irrigation in West-Central Florida landscapes.
• Tutorials to check for common sprinkler programming errors and issues.

For more information about irrigation, watering restrictions, or water conservation, please visit PascoCountyUtilities.com and connect with us on Twitter @PascoWater.