WaterSense labeled products are backed by independent, third–party certification and meet EPA’s specifications for water efficiency and performance. When you use these water–saving products in your home or business, you can expect exceptional performance, savings on your water bills, and assurance that you are saving water for future generations. Learn more...

Your plumbing system consists of all the pipes and fixtures on your property after the water meter connection. Maintaining your plumbing system is the first step to preventing water waste and regular inspection can save you water and money. Learn how to hunt down leaks throughout your home by downloading this audit form.

Annual Irrigation System

Check Before running your system for the first time each spring, always perform a system check. Inspect the irrigation system for broken sprinkler heads, leaning sprinklers, overspray onto the pavement, rotors not rotating, spray heads misting, and uneven coverage. 

1. Examine the rain shut-off sensor and valve box. Make sure they are free of dirt and debris and the rain sensor is working properly.
2. Inspect and clean filters. Filters are usually located near where the water exits the house. To clean out sediment, open the flush valve at the bottom of the filter and turn on the water for 1 minute. To clean the sediment screen, turn the water off, remove the filter body, and spray with a hose.
3. Flush your system. Turn the system off and remove the last sprinkler head in each line. Turn the system on for a few minutes until the water runs clear. Replace the sprinkler heads, running one valve at a time to check for proper operation.
4. Examine your timer and the battery. Make sure your system runs for the scheduled amount of time. Set the timer to comply with local watering requirements. Georgia law allows for residential outdoor watering before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m. If the Georgia Environmental Protection Division declares a drought response, watering restrictions may apply. 

Uniform Coverage

The goal of an efficient irrigation system is to provide head-to-head coverage, defined as water from each sprinkler reaching the sprinklers adjacent to it. This overlapping coverage provides even water distribution and avoids dry spots and overwatering.

1. Adjust sprinklers so that they are watering their intended target, not the house, paved surfaces, sidewalk, or street. In Cobb County, this action violates the Water Waste Ordinance.
2. Make sure your sprinkler heads, when extended, rise above the height of the grass for uniform coverage. Use taller heads in flower and shrub beds. Check that sprinkler heads are not tilted or broken.
3. Make sure all sprinkler heads in a zone spray evenly. Place containers evenly throughout one zone of your irrigation system. Turn that zone on for 15 minutes. Measure and add together the amount of water in all cans, divide by the number of cans, and multiply by four. This is how many inches your irrigation system puts out per hour. The approximate precipitation rate for a spray head is 2” per hour and a rotor uses approximately ½” per hour. If you notice extensive uneven sprinkler head sprays within a zone, this can be a result of pressure problems. You need to have a licensed or certified landscape professional check the system for water pressure and uniformity problems. 

Routine Maintenance

Check your system at least once a month. Observing the signs of irrigation system issues is the key to water savings. Many problems can be discovered simply by taking a quick look at your landscape and at the system when it is running.

1. Look for signs of under-watering or over-watering such as brown spots in your lawn, or areas that are greener or consistently wet and soggy. Check for uniformity or a cracked underground pipe in the irrigation system.
2. Check for blocked spray streams and check the position of the sprinklers. Adjust sprinkler heads that are tilted, blocked by grass and plants, or buried. 
3. Cap sprinkler heads that are no longer needed to avoid system leakage and wasted water.
4. Inspect valves, sprinkler heads, nozzles, and emitters for obvious problems such as clogged or misaligned heads, bubbling, and misting. Replace if they are broken or cracked.
5. In above ground systems such as drip irrigation, look for pinched or broken tubing. Straighten or replace tubing if needed.

Right Time - Right Soil

In Cobb County most of our soil is clay and clay loam mix, creating a slower absorption of water into the ground. A typical irrigation schedule can result in excessive water run-off and wasted water and money. Typically, short cycles of six to ten minutes are all the water your yard can absorb at one time. More frequent short cycles are the best way to get water to the roots of your plants and reduce run-off. Water each zone for 7 minutes, rotating through all zones. Once all zones are complete, the cycle can be repeated, and each zone should have had time to absorb the water. An irrigation timer can be set to accommodate shorter, more frequent cycles. If you have fewer zones, set multiple run times with at least a 20-minute absorption time to allow the water to soak in. Remember, all watering should be scheduled before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m.

Related Resources

• Irrigation with a Pro-U.S. EPA WaterSense Program: https://www.epa.gov/watersense/irrigation-pro 
• Irrigation for Lawns and Gardens - Georgia Cooperative Extension Service  https://tinyurl.com/y4qdwjqo

Some of the largest water users in your home are leaks and older high-flow fixtures. Cobb Water offers bill credit rebates and free materials to help you lower your bill and save water.  Learn more...

How much water do you use? The Water Calculator estimates household water use and compares your home to both a typical household and an efficient household in your zip/postal code.  Learn more...

Rain barrels capture water from a roof and hold it for later use such as on lawns, gardens or indoor plants. Collecting roof runoff in rain barrels reduces the amount of water that flows from your property. It's a great way to conserve water and it's free water for use in your landscape. Register for one of our summer rain barrel Make & Take Workshops or make a rain barrel of your own with instructions in this Home Owner’s Guide to Rain Barrels.

CCWS offers customers these free fixtures to help you lower your bill and save water. If your home was built before 1993, chances are you still have older, high water-using fixtures. The easiest way to save water in your home is by changing out old, inefficient fixtures with high-efficiency technology. Indoor kits include: WaterSense labeled showerhead, water-efficient kitchen and bathroom sink aerators, leak detector tablets, and a pressure test gauge. Outdoor kits include: rain gauge, a handheld hose nozzle, and a hose timer. Submit an online request form.

We use about 100 gallons of water a day. Little changes make a difference. Encourage every member of your family to save 10 gallons everyday.

• Turn the water off when brushing your teeth. – 4 Gallons
• Don’t rinse your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher, scrape instead. – 6 Gallons
• Don’t use the toilet as a trash can. – 3 Gallons
• Do only full loads of laundry. Cut back by one load a week. – 5 Gallons a day
• Keep a pitcher of cold water in the fridge for cold water to drink – 6 Gallons
• Catch shower water as it heats up to use on plants – 10 Gallons
• Limit to one full load of dishes a day. – 2 Gallons a day
• Take a shorter shower; cut your time by 2 minutes. – 10 Gallons
• Use a basin or plug the sink for rinsing when doing dishes by hand. – 12 Gallons
• Replace high flow showerheads. – 3 Gallons a minute
• Replace high flow sink aerators. – 1.5 Gallons a minute
• Use the load setting on your clothes washer to smaller load. – 2 Gallons a day
• Pour out pet’s water on plants, not down the drain. – 1 Gallon
• Fill bathtub only half way. – 15 Gallons
• Fix dripping faucets. – 3 Gallons
• Turn water off when shaving, washing your face, and brushing teeth. – 4 Gallons
• Make a compost pile instead of using the garbage disposal. – 4 Gallons
• Catch rinse water from washing veggies or draining pasta use it on your plants. – 2 Gallon