It is important for us to conserve water in our landscapes anywhere that we can, so let’s make the easy improvements first! ALL landscape irrigation systems REQUIRE a rain sensor or other type of shut off device. This ensures that you are not watering your landscape while it is raining or sufficiently wet. It is kind of a no brainer, and it is definitely a Florida statute.
“Any person who operates an automatic landscape irrigation system shall properly install, maintain, and operate technology that inhibits or interrupts operation of the system during periods of sufficient moisture” (Florida Statute 373.62).
With more than half of our drinking water going to watering turfgrass lawns, it is vitally important that we do not over water. In fact, most turf diseases are exacerbated by over watering! 
Check your rain shut off or have an irrigation professional check it for you. There are a few different kinds of rain shut offs:
- Expanding disks
- Water weight
- Electrical conductivity
Check out the following video and publication to learn more! Most of all, make sure you check the landscapes that you manage for a working rain sensor.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4QMu_a5j8s
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/AE221
0
