Conejo Post

That is the message I feel that my sprinkler system is giving me.  For all the time I have lived in my Conejo home, until this year, I was basically oblivious to to how much I was watering, and whether or not pipes and emitters were in good shape.

No more!  Now, with the  15% mandatory reduction required for my water provider, as of July 1st, I am working to take responsibility for doing my part.  Besides, my district has raised rates, and strengthened the tier billing system, where the more water you use, the more expensive the rate is.  That got my attention too.  At least once a week, I check when the sprinklers are on, to make sure there are no leaks and that the heads spraying partial areas, like 90 and 180 degrees, are pointed in the right direction.

I thought that was enough until I was informed by a water service rep that I probably had a leak on my water line somewhere!  I checked the water meter myself and, sure enough, the little arrow on the dial was slowly turning, when all the water was turned off, inside and out.  Now what? 

My gardener thinks likely areas to check out are by the irrigation controllers, front and back, which probably means a lot of digging, and a lot of mess.  And, the leak might not be either place anyway!  Well, I guess this is what I “gotta do.”  I just hope we can find the small leak, or I may just have to turn off the main outside water valve after each outside use. 

Posted by Janna Orkney, Chair of the Triunfo Sanitation District Board, owner of Oak Park Water Service