Irrigating large grass fields in an arid climate requires a delicate balance. Here’s how schools water lawns responsibly:

Keeping Lawns Healthy & Useful

We all know school fields are used during the school year, but they are also used by sports leagues, community programs and other functions. It’s important to keep our school lawns alive by watering responsibly, especially during the summer.

Watering Only Twice a Week

Schools adhere to current state watering restrictions by watering twice a week. You may see sprinklers come on every day at a school, which is due to different areas being watered on different days. Most irrigations systems do not have adequate pressure to water entire fields at one time.

Watering During Specific Times

Watering occurs in the hours between the late evening and early morning. Schools with large fields have tighter schedules, and many schools still require manual sprinkler operation, but watering should never occur before 6 p.m. or later than 10 a.m. Custodians should adjust watering times if measurable rain falls.

Making Adjustments as Needed

Throughout the season custodians may make watering adjustments in line with state restrictions. Many school have automated irrigation systems that can adjust easily, but many still require manual operation from custodians. Broken sprinkler heads and other issues are addressed as quickly as possible.

If you have questions or notice a watering issue at a school, please call 385.646.4400 or send an email to customerservice@graniteschools.org so we can address it as soon as possible.