Water Losses Possible from Power Outs

The power outages of the past couple days have the potential to upset the settings on home sprinkler systems, warned Madeline Ward, the city’s water conservation coordinator. Unless there’s a working battery backup, most systems reset to the default of nightly watering at midnight for 10 minutes, she said, a fact that catches most consumers unaware. Needless to say, checking sprinkler settings after a blackout can save thousands of gallons.