Phoenix used to provide bi-monthly irrigation to just about every neighborhood. For whatever reason, irrigation became less popular over time. Many neighborhoods eventually gave up their irrigation service in favor of sprinkler systems that use less water. As far as I know, this was done with homeowner consent - people could choose to keep irrigation if they wanted. But most switched. I’m not sure why, because city irrigation is actually a great deal.
Anyway, in older neighborhoods, you see a lot of homes that stuck with the irrigation service. This is one of them.
I’m trying to work this system out. It seems basically that the water is released and allowed to flood the lawns, etc, so things get a good dousing. And presumably it all drys out quickly in the baking heat but not before sufficient moisture has sunk deep into the ground. Correct? Great shot, by the way.
Yes. The city releases water a couple times a month. You have to go out and turn a valve in your yard to let the water in. The lawns on this system all have berms around the edges to hold in the water. Everything in the yard gets a thorough soak, and it stays wet long enough that your trees get a deep watering. I believe once the water is shut off it takes several days to dry out, probably over a week for the ground to go back to being hard. So you’ve got the gist of it, Robert.
First, my apologies for a bit of cut and paste commenting. I have been doing the rounds via Bloglines and looking at all the pictures from my favourite photo blogs, but haven’t been leaving comments. Generally, I try to comment as much as I can (I know how good it is for ‘morale’ to know that someone is out there appreciating them), but after the birth of my second son, I am a bit knackered to think up something witty and insightful on the hop. Thus the resort to Control+C and Control+P!
Kris from Hobart, Tasmania.