Water is a precious resource and the City of Irving wants all residents to be mindful of its use, especially during the summer.

Taking good care of water resources is important to the city’s Water Utilities Department, which makes water conservation a key component of its public outreach.

Most of Irving’s water waste is caused by improper irrigation. The city has implemented year-round, twice-a-week watering and time-of-day restrictions to promote better water use habits to conserve Irving’s water supply. These restrictions mean that residents should water only on the two designated days for each address, and all lawn irrigation should occur before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m. between April 1 and Oct. 31. Residents can check their appropriate irrigation day by visiting CityofIrving.org/Water-Utilities.

Many residents may be unaware that leaving a sprinkler system on for more than 10 minutes is an inefficient way to irrigate. Water conservation experts say it is better to break up lawns into zones, and water each zone for five to seven minutes, switching between the different areas. This approach is called cycle-soak irrigation. After allowing one hour for the water to soak in, another five-minute cycle can be completed for each zone. Watering for a maximum of seven minutes allows soil in that area to soak up the water and decreases runoff. Overwatering increases water waste because of the dense soils native to North Texas.

A small leak — about the size of a pinhead — dripping one drop per second can lose 7 gallons of water a day. A large leak, the kind most often found in toilets, can waste 200 gallons of water or more a day. Here are some common places residents can check for leaks:

-Sinks: Check faucets in the bathroom and kitchen periodically. Worn washers are usually the cause of dripping faucets.

-Toilets: Most toilet leaks occur when the float device is set too high, which causes water to run into the overflow tube, or a flapper becomes warped or cracked. Inexpensive toilet leak kits are available at home improvement stores.

-Sprinkler systems: Broken sprinkler heads or damaged underground pipes are common sources of sprinkler system leaks. Watch your system run at least once a month to spot problems early. If a leak is suspected, head to the nearest branch of the Irving Public Library to check out a do-it-yourself book that can help fix the leak.

Experts say cycle-soak watering conserves water and establishes healthier lawns because plant and tree roots become more drought-resistant. Plants and grasses that are not over-saturated are forced to search deeper into the soil to find water, which makes their roots stronger and helps them survive longer during a drought.

Residents who are not sure of how much or how often to water their yard are encouraged to register for WaterMyYard.org, an online alert system that provides residents with weekly, customized notifications.

Learn more Water Conservation tips