May 19, 2025 – Mark Luis Foster

Our network has such great sponsors and we appreciate their willingness to take time and attention to provide quality education to our members at monthly chapter meetings. Last month, Advanced Irrigation presented on spring start up procedures, and lots of questions were generated about sprinkler systems in HOAs. It seems anytime I ask HOA leaders if they struggle with their sprinkler systems, at least half, and usually far more, raise their hands.

Sprinklers are a necessary evil in HOAs, despite their finicky nature from being buried in the cold Minnesota ground for seven months out of the year. Who wouldn’t be finicky with a life like that? Yet sprinklers keep our lawns healthy and green, but they can’t do everything that homeowners may expect.

We put together a quick quiz to see if you can pass muster on the real role of an HOA sprinkler system.  See how well you do, and happy sprinkling!

 

 

  1. Sprinkler systems can replace normal rainfall.  FALSE. Even modern day systems cannot put enough water on lawns to efficiently make up for a lack of rainfall. Most sprinkler systems are designed to augment natural rain during the growing season, but due to water expense, delivery methods through heads and only so much available water pressure, we cannot expect our aging system to replace what Mother Nature does not deliver in the spring and summer months.
  2. Brown spots in my yard mean something is broken.  FALSE. When drought conditions persist, even a modern system will not keep lawns completely green. Some areas of lawns with constant sunlight, hill locations or large coverage areas may decrease the amount of water that can be efficiently delivered to all lawn areas.
  3. Sprinklers should water flowers and bushes in my yard. FALSE. While some heads may spray water on nearby vegetation, most systems are designed primarily for water distribution on lawns, not flowers and bushes. Lawns are the priority in most HOAs.
  4. The sprinklers should run for 10 minutes at a time on most zones. TRUE. The common delivery method in use in most HOAs is called “cycle and soak.” This method allows the water to be delivered to the lawn in certain zones for 10 minutes at a time. The zones then shut down, allowing the water to seep into the ground. Then the zones fire up again for 10 minutes, and repeat one more time for a total of 30 minutes of sprinkling time. This sometimes varies depending on conditions or locations of zones.
  5. Residents can use their own sprinklers. TRUE.  Depending on governing documents, city ordinances or other HOA rules, most residents are encouraged to water areas that seem dry and not well reached by the in-ground system. HOA leaders are encouraged to communicate the times and days that residents can water to abide by city ordinances.

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