Water Conservation Awareness Can Prevent Major Property Damage
No one should underestimate the power of water erosion and the damage it can cause, both in property damage and to human lives. Flash flooding caused this catastrophic damage to a roadway in 2011.
You can see how a large section of the roadway separated from the hillside, forming a new, impromptu creekbed.
A sinkhole under the road collapsed nearly an entire lane.
The destructive power of flowing water is enormous. The National Weather Service reports that one flash flood in 1972 caused $164M in damages, while another in 1990 caused up to $8M in damages.
An Irrigation Leak is Bad for the Environment and Bad for Your Property
Over time, a hidden sprinkler system leak can cause damage just as severe as a flash flood. Erosion from leaking water damages pavement, lawns, gardens and even building foundations. Insurance expert Paul Martin, CPCU, explains:
“‘So you have water that collects against the foundation every day. The ground swells and contracts. That can cause the foundation to move or even crack.’ He goes on to explain that if the foundation isn’t exactly well-built, the cracks and movement can turn into broken pipes and leaks, which lead to even more water damage. ‘Also, there are weep holes in brick walls,’ says Paul, ‘And if the water gets above the foundation line, it can get in through those holes and soak into your walls and flooring.'”
Excess water usage from leaking pipes is certainly bad for the environment, and definitely bad for your property. But just how much water is wasted with an irrigation leak? Simply Leak Detection shares some startling statistics of how much water is wasted when your sprinkler system runs while damaged with a leak:
Drip Irrigation @1 GPM [gallons per minute] = 43,200 Gal/mo
Watering Garden for 2 hours @ 5 GPM = 18,000 Gal/mo
Watering Garden for 2 hours @ 10 GPM = 36,000 Gal/mo
Hydrawise Smart Irrigation Controller is the Best Way to Detect Leaks Before They Become a Serious Problem
With irrigation pipes buried underground, it can take some time for a leak to become evident on the surface. And while the leak is undetected, erosion is happening. We recommend the Hydrawise Smart Irrigation Controller and our ‘No Worries’ Sprinkler Management Program to prevent these problems.
The smart controller monitors the system and alerts to anything out of the ordinary, including leaks. From an app, it’s easy to shut off the sprinkler system from anywhere. Then, our Irrigation Technicians come out to diagnose and fix the problem.
Concerned that you might have a sprinkler leak? Contact us.
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