I have been saying for years (yes, to the water department and council) that rain sensors should be mandated for all sprinkler systems, not only new systems. They don’t cost that much to install, although they have to be installed correctly. They aren’t perfect–it could pour five minutes after a watering, for example–but they are a terrific development and ought to be relied upon. Existing systems should never have been grandfathered. This could change with a simple new ordinance.
The next step would be maintenance and oversight. Every year I have to ask the sprinkler crew to test my rain sensor. It is not part of their regular spring turn-on-the-system routine, nor was it for my previous service, which installed it in the first place, but it should be.
Police driving around at 5 AM can easily identify which sprinklers are on when they shouldn’t be, because it’s the wrong day or it is raining or has just rained. Tickets could follow. I don’t want to be told to turn in my neighbors, although an anonymous tip line would surely uncover a large number of violations.
Education is needed. In my experience most people have no clue how to work their systems and no interest in learning. A few fines might inspire them to read the manual or make a call.
