Despite the abnormally wet winter and prediction of a wet spring, the summer irrigation season is approaching and we are currently in the process of servicing your irrigation system to prepare for the irrigation season this coming summer. We start in March each year as the irrigation season can start as early as April.
Each spring we activate and perform a comprehensive servicing of each of the irrigation systems we manage. This includes turning on each valve, cleaning around and adjusting the heads, and ensuring your system is ready for operation when the time comes. We also make repairs when we find broken or malfunctioning components. Whereas cleaning and adjusting is included in our monthly cost, repair or replacement of parts is billed as an extra service.
When will we start to irrigate? It is too early to know but we plan to have all of our systems serviced and ready by May 1st. We can need to start irrigating as early as early April and as late as mid June. Even if we don't need to irrigate till June, we have to be prepared to start by May 1st as that has been needed in the past.
Water Rates Are Rising
As has been reported last fall, local water rates are all rising, some more than others. As the Portland area grows, the need for more water is requiring capital projects to build pipelines to new water sources. Tigard and Lake Oswego have just completed there's and their water rates are the highest currently. Beaverton and Hillsboro are embarking on a project which will rapidly increase their water rates over the next 10 years. See the links below for more information about several of the municipalities water rate increases.
What a great justification in the investment in irrigation efficiency. We have been working on improving irrigation system efficiency since we began so the dedication and effort is not new. What is new is the technology. The advent of Weather based irrigation control, improved sprinkler technology, improved drip irrigation technology, and pressure compensating valves and nozzles has given us new tools to help you save water and money.
