How much water does a sprinkler head use per minute

In-ground lawn sprinklers are designed to keep plants and grass looking green and healthy throughout the year. Sprinklers may be seen more frequently in dryer areas, such as southern and desert states, where natural rainfall is low. Many people may be unaware of certain facts concerning sprinklers---such as the amount of water sprinklers use in a short period of time.

Types

Watering by hose and watering by in-ground sprinklers produce different results and use different amounts of water. Hose watering may or may not involve an attachment such as a sprinkler or a sprayer, or may refer to the use of a drip or soaker hose. In-ground sprinklers and garden hose sprinklers alike may deliver a rotating spray of water or a continuous spray from one position.

Daily Usage

A sprinkler head may use 15 gallons of water per minute. Most lawns require at least 30 minutes of watering at a time. This means that even for just one sprinkler head, 450 gallons of water are used each time the sprinkler is on for 30 minutes. A hose sprinkler uses between 315 and 930 gallons per every half hour of operation, depending on the size of the hose. If you have five sprinkler stations and run the sprinklers twice a week, you will use 4,500 gallons of water a week. The same length of time watering with a hose will use between 3,150 and 9,300 gallons per week.

• Watering by hose and watering by in-ground sprinklers produce different results and use different amounts of water.
  
• A sprinkler head may use 15 gallons of water per minute.

Efficiency

Most sprinkler systems are only about 60 percent efficient. Runoff from too much water soaking into the soil at once or hitting trees and sidewalks, along with evaporation reduce the efficiency of sprinklers. That means that of the potential 9,000 gallons of water per week, up to 3,600 gallons will be completely wasted. Hand-held sprinklers reduce the waste because the spray can be directed where it is needed.

Drawbacks

There are many drawbacks to sprinkler systems. Aside from the issue of using so much water and the potential water waste, there is also the cost of operating sprinklers. A bill for the use of 9,000 gallons might exceed $200 per month, an expense that many families cannot afford.

• Most sprinkler systems are only about 60 percent efficient.
  
• Runoff from too much water soaking into the soil at once or hitting trees and sidewalks, along with evaporation reduce the efficiency of sprinklers.

Considerations

It is important to determine if having a green lawn all summer long is important enough to justify the waste and cost that sprinkler systems will cause. Consider watering plants but not watering the grass, or consider watering only during weeks in which no rain falls. Most plants can survive off of 1 or 2 inches of water per week. Install a rain gauge to know when to water.

Your everyday water usage adds up - quickly

Did you know that the average family of three uses about 165 gallons of water per day? And that's just inside the home. Outdoor water usage at certain times of the year - such as watering lawns in the summer - can really increase the amount of water you use.

Indoor Water Usage

How is it that the typical three-person family uses 165 gallons of water every day? It's not hard when you consider this chart:

*The rate of consumption for water-saving devices or products significantly varies. Please check the plumbing fixture package to determine the item's efficiency.

Outdoor Water Consumption

When warm weather arrives - and you water the lawn and garden, let the kids run through the sprinkler or fill up their kiddie pool - your water usage can really spike, as you can see from this table:

Keep in mind that WSSC Water’s rates are based on a customer's average daily consumption. As your consumption increases, your rates also will increase.

Irrigation Systems

On average, a pop-up station of a lawn irrigation system uses approximately 16 gallons of water per minute. Here is an example of how to calculate how much water is being used per month:

Number of Minutes x Number of Stations/Zones = Total Minutes
Total Minutes x Gallons per minute = Total Gallons used per watering cycle
Total Gallons per cycle x Number of days per month you water = Total gallons used per month

If your system has eight stations, and you water twice per week, and each station runs for 15 minutes, then you are using 1,920 gallons each day you water, or 15,360 gallons per month.

Sprinklers

Watering with a typical sprinkler using a standard 5/8" garden hose for one hour uses about 1,020 gallons of water; if you water three times per week, that's about 12,240 gallons per month. If you run the sprinkler three times per week during a 90-day billing cycle, you will add about 36,000 gallons of water to your usage.

Know Your Household Water Usage

If you're familiar with your household's typical water consumption, it will be easier to notice big changes to your home's Average Daily Consumption. That's why you should always review your bill and check the amount of water used, to spot potential problems as soon as possible. (Need to review what's reported on your bill? Visit "How to Read Your Water Bill" for a quick refresh.)

While higher water usage shown on your bill can occur with a longer billing cycle, it might also be a sign of water leaks or other problems. To look for and head off possible problems, check these tips for finding leaks around your home. 

NOTE: The Coronavirus pandemic has kept us home much more than usual, meaning a lot more water usage than usual - which of course has resulted in a higher average daily consumption.

High Bill Adjustment Regulation

As of March 2018, single-unit residential customers can request a high bill adjustment every three years, if certain criteria are met. This change represents a $2 million investment by WSSC Water toward improving service to our customers.

Customers and/or property owners are responsible for maintaining all plumbing on private property and paying for water that registers on the meter, including water lost due to leak(s).

Need help with your bill?

WSSC Water is committed to making your water and sewer bills more affordable. We’ve enhanced our Financial Assistance Programs and payment plans to provide help to more customers. Eligible residential customers may request a payment plan to make their water and sewer bills more affordable. If you have questions or need to speak to someone, please contact Customer Service at 301-206-4001 (press option 5).

We have several ways to assist when you experience high bills:

• Financial Assistance Programs
• Water Fund
• Dispute Resolution

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