Understand Local Designated Watering Days
The City of Bakersfield implements strict designated watering schedules to manage community water resources. Odd-numbered street addresses are restricted to running their irrigation equipment on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Meanwhile, even-numbered homes must program their watering days for Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, with absolutely no outdoor irrigation permitted city-wide on Mondays.
Configure Allowed Watering Time Windows
Compliance goes beyond specific days; you must also configure the proper hours on your irrigation system. City rules mandate that outdoor watering must only occur after 6 p.m. and before 9 a.m. Setting your controller to run during these overnight hours minimizes water loss from evaporation and complies perfectly with municipal drought regulations.
Use the Water Budgeting Feature
Most modern solid-state irrigation controllers feature a water budget or seasonal adjustment setting. This powerful tool allows you to scale your entire watering duration up or down by a simple percentage based on current weather conditions. Utilizing this feature saves significant time, prevents oversaturating your soil, and optimizes your overall water conservation efforts.
Upgrade to Smart Climate-Based Controllers
If manual adjustments feel tedious, upgrading to smart climate-based controllers is the ultimate solution. These intelligent devices utilize weather sensors to automatically adapt your schedule based on real-time environmental factors. At Kern Turf Supply, we provide top-tier smart irrigation supplies, including Rain Bird and Hunter systems, that effortlessly keep you compliant.
Test and Troubleshoot Your Valuation Zones
Before saving your new schedule, execute a brief manual test on each individual watering zone. Running a two-minute test cycle allows you to verify that your valves open immediately and close completely without getting stuck. This routine maintenance step prevents accidental runtime overages that violate city limits.
Verify Your Backup Battery Power
A sudden power outage can completely wipe your programmed city schedule, reverting your automatic timer back to factory defaults. Always inspect and replace the backup battery inside your irrigation system controller annually. Keeping a fresh battery installed ensures your compliance settings remain safely locked in place.
Inspect System Hardware for Hidden Leaks
Even a perfectly programmed timer cannot prevent water waste if your property has hidden line breaks or broken nozzles. Routinely check your irrigation equipment for pooling water, low pressure, or clogged spray heads during operational hours. Prompt irrigation repair maintains proper distribution uniformity and prevents costly municipal water fines.
We are dedicated to helping our Central California community achieve efficient, gorgeous landscapes.
If you need assistance choosing the right irrigation equipment or require professional guidance on system adjustments, our expert team is ready to help. Visit one of our two convenient Bakersfield locations on Alken Street or Wible Road today.