IRRIGATION SHUTDOWN.indd

Irrigation System
End of Season
Shutdown Instructions
Seasonal shutdown of the District’s Dual Irrigation System will begin October 15th. Property owners
served by this system should complete the following 3 easy steps (in order) between October 15 and
November 1 each year to prevent damage to irrigation systems (broken or frozen pipes/valves, flooding).
1
2
3
Close the
stop and waste valve
Open the test valves
on the pressure
vacuum breaker
Drain and Winterize
your underground
irrigation system
Say No
to
Frozen
Pipes!
The 3 inch lid is usually located
in the front yard between the
irrigation meter and the building.
Remove the lid from the stop
and waste valve using an irrigation key (see figures 1.a, 1.b.).
Next, place your irrigation key in
the valve box, aligning it with the
valve inside, and turn the valve
counter-clockwise ¼ turn.
Replace and secure the lid. Leave
this valve closed until Spring.
Note: This drains water from the
irrigation service lines between
the backflow preventer and the
valve to prevent freezing.
This is a typical backflow preventer
(pressure vacuum breaker) on a
home. A ¼ counter-clockwise turn
is all that is needed to open the
valves.
Leave these valves open until Spring.
Note: This ensures that all water in
the device is drained to avoid
damage from freezing and breakage
during the winter.
Winterizing your system is a
crucial step in preventing damage during the winter months.
Simply drain and “blow out” the
entire irrigation system on the
property to complete the seasonal shutdown.
The District does not provide this
service, but most landscape contractors do. Find these services at
www.dexonline.com.
The District will publish notices
regarding the dual irrigation
system at www.sacwsd.org.
Hand watering of trees and
shrubs once per month during
winter shutdown is encouraged.
Important
Information About
Seasonal Shutdown of
Your Irrigation System!
1/4
turn
open
closed
Figure 1.b.
A standard stop
& waste valve
cover is approx.
4” diameter.
irrigation pipe
IRRIGATION
Purple pipes and
lids indicate nonpotable irrigation
water. For safety,
don’t paint them
another color!!
irrigation pipe
Figure 1.a. Irrigation key with a close-up of the custom-formed tip used to turn
the bolt on the lid as well as open and/or close the stop and waste valve.
One quarter turn of the valve tip
controls the flow of water through
the stop & waste valve.
Get Stuff!
If you’d like to receive updates about the dual irrigation system throughout the year, just
[email protected]
@sacwsd.org. We’ll add you to our exclusive e-list (we
send an email to dualirrigation
won’t be sharing it, of course).Then, when we have news about startup and shutdown
schedules, watering guidelines, etc., you’ll be one of the first to know! We’ll also send
periodic updates on the status of non-potable irrigation supplies, and
offer rare opportunities to get stuff like conservation freebies, garden
gadgets & tools, and rebates. In order for us to do this well, please
include your subdivision name in your email.