Colorado Springs Utilities reminds homeowners of summer watering rules as May begins

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) -As watering season officially begins, residents are being reminded to follow seasonal watering rules, and to be cautious about turning on their sprinkler systems too soon.

Starting May 1, Colorado Springs Utilities requires outdoor watering to take place only before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. The goal is to prevent water loss due to evaporation during the hottest parts of the day.

Sam Schreier, Colorado Springs Utilities

”If you’re watering in the middle of the day and it’s 95° out that water is evaporating back into the atmosphere. You are losing so much and you’re just wasting it Because not enough of it going into your soil.” said Sam Schreier, a water conservation specialist with Colorado Springs Utilities.

Sprinklers running mid-day can lose up to half their water to evaporation. To get the most out of every drop, experts recommend watering deeply three times a week—just not during the heat.

Even though watering is now allowed, Schreier says a late spring freeze could still damage underground systems.

“We kind of always recommend turn those sprinkler systems on after Mother’s Day. Now, if you want to be brave and try it in April, early May, that’s fine, but we can still get a pretty good hard freeze. To be extra safe, it’s always worth going ahead and waiting till Mother’s Day, then turning those on,” Schreier said.

Until then, CSU recommends using a hose for any dry spots in the yard. Most lawns only need water once or twice a week this time of year.

Water Wise Rules are in effect through Oct. 15 and are meant to reduce waste and support healthy landscapes in Colorado’s dry climate.

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