The City of Twin Falls would like to remind residents that the Pressurized Irrigation season starts in late-April. Residents and businesses should also be aware that low snowpack and ongoing drought conditions may prompt irrigation water curtailment and property owners should start now to prevent water waste.

The City normally begins receiving water from the Twin Falls Canal Company for Pressurized Irrigation in mid-April, and over the course of three- to four-weeks the canals will fill, or ‘charge’, the Pressurized Irrigation stations before use. During that time City Water crews clear, charge and start Pressurized Irrigation (PI) stations serving each subdivision. All subdivisions typically receive Pressurized Irrigation water by May 1. Residents can see when their subdivision’s pressurized irrigation is active at TFID.ORG and selecting ‘Pressurized Irrigation Update’.

Again, due low snowpack and ongoing drought conditions, the City is encouraging residents to act now to prevent water waste and prepare for potential irrigation curtailments. 

PREVENT Water Waste

• When activated, property owners should check sprinkler systems to prevent line breaks. Symptoms of underground line breaks include: loss pressure to sprinklers; the sound of water moving underground; lawn ‘bulging’ when the sprinkler is on; pooling water in landscaping or water flowing over sidewalk into gutters and storm drains.
• Clean Filters. Sediment from canal water can accumulate in filters and cause low water pressure.
• PI valves should be in the off position thru winter and remain off until after the first sediment-heavy water has cycled thru your subdivision’s station. Otherwise, sediment may accumulate in your sprinkler system.
• Do not water at the same time as your neighbors. The homes in your subdivision share a pressurization station, and too many homes watering at the same time will overwhelm the station and shut it down. Use the ‘Flow Meter’ at TFID.ORG to determine the best time to water.
• Do not overwater. Symptoms of overwatering include: boggy or soft lawn surface; pooling water in landscaping; water runoff into sidewalk and drains (usually caused by oversaturated turf or clogged filters) or wilting grass and landscaping.

ACTIVATING Your Home’s Pressurized Irrigation

Because Pressurized Irrigation uses untreated canal water, the first cycle of water thru Pressurized Irrigation is often heavy with sediment, and it’s strongly encouraged to keep your PI valve in the off position until after your station has cycled thru water with sediment — typically about two days from activation. 

After Pressurized Irrigation is activated, homeowners who winterized their sprinkler systems will need to access their (PI) valve — generally near the sidewalk. Once activated, residents should check for damaged sprinkler heads, ‘bulging’ lawn turf that may indicate an underground leak, and spots that feel spongy due to overwatering. Sprinkler systems typically have a main filter at, or near, the PI valve and smaller filters in each sprinkler head that property owners should clean before use.

Customers connected to Pressurized Irrigation should spread out watering times over a 24-hour period. When too many homeowners water at the same time of day — typically during early morning hours — the pump station cannot keep up with demand and will shut down to prevent overheating. When shut-down occurs, that subdivision will not receive irrigation water. Customers can see when their subdivision experiences low- or peak-demand on the City’s website at TFID.ORG

ABOUT Pressurized Irrigation

The City of Twin Falls’ pressurized irrigation system reduces demand on the aquifer’s limited water supply by utilizing canal water for non-potable purposes (irrigating). On average it has reduced Twin Falls’ demand on the aquifer by nearly 9 million gallons per day! Pressurized irrigation water is not safe to drink, as it comes from an open canal system and it is not treated. For more information about pressurized irrigation, please visit the city’s website at TFID.ORG