Sprinkler System Auditing
Most Houston area sprinkler system owners are not familiar with an irrigation audit. We think that this is one of the most important services that we provide. Below are a few questions and answers that should give you general understanding of what an irrigation audit is and why it is important.
Q: What is an Irrigation Audit?
A: In general terms, an irrigation audit is a systematic and scientific approach to assess the effectiveness of your irrigation system. It measures the amount of water delivered to representative areas of the irrigation area, then takes into account your soil type, root depth and ET rate to determine the amount of water needed for your lawn or beds.
Q: What is the purpose of an irrigation audit?
A: The reason for an irrigation audit is to identify and fix any areas of your sprinkler system that is not delivering the proper amount of water. Once these issues are resolved, or if there are no issues, an audit will give you a watering schedule based on the actual amount of water delivered and the need of your vegetation.
Q:Why should I consider have an audit performed?
A: The biggest reason for an irrigation audit is to provide the correct watering to all areas of your yard. This will minimize or eliminate over watering and run off. This can be a large savings on your water bill and conserves our natural resources. Most audit pay for themselves in a short period of time. A good audit will actually tell you what the anticipated water savings will be.
Q: How do I know if a contractor is qualified to perform an audit of my sprinkler system?
A: Texas A&M provide training and certification for Sprinkler System Auditors. If you want the best audit, we highly recommend that you only use a certified Auditor. There are a lot of irrigators that have been in the business for a long time and have the opinion that they have been doing this for awhile therefore they know how to set up a watering plan. Although it may be true that they have been doing this for a long time, they do not actually use scientific method to determine what is best for your situation. Don't let anyone tell you that they can do an audit without measurement and calculations. It is not possible, no matter how long you have been in the business. Ask for the Auditor certification, or find someone that is certified. You can get a list of Certified Auditors on the Texas A&M website.