Landscaping Update: A message from Sarah Hoey, IHCA Director
There are a few rumors going around that IHCA has turned off the water to the irrigation systems in the community this summer. Please understand this is not the case.
During the summer months, IHCA uses all available resources to assist with irrigation system demands and water urgency. Please note that IHCA services 5,500 acres of developed land, with multiple irrigation systems and there are currently two irrigation technicians on staff.
There is a high volume of irrigation and stressed landscaping work orders coming in and we are prioritizing them as quickly as we can.
“Everyone needs to understand that in times of drought, it’s okay for lawns to turn brown, and in most cases the grass will bounce back when rain returns,”
— Bob Mann, National Association of Landscape Professionals
Issaquah Highlands Irrigation Water Sources:
Utilizing retention ponds and a reclaimed water system is the least expensive method of irrigation in Issaquah Highlands. IHCA has a use agreement with the city in which we can pump water from some of the retention ponds, filter it, and use the reclaimed water for a portion of the community’s common area landscaping.
This year, a major pump failed and needs to be replaced. As luck would have it, no one in the Pacific Northwest has one, and we had to order it instead.
As a result, we have lost a significant water source for irrigation use. Per our emergency plan, we have obtained a temporary water meter from the city of Issaquah and we’re currently purchasing water. Metered water costs roughly $10 per 748 gallons of water. On average, Issaquah Highlands uses over 17 million gallons of water each year from the retention pond gray water.
IHCA’s annual budget for irrigation water is $200,000. We’ve had to increase our average irrigation water consumption over 20% in the past four years due to extremely hot summer days. We remain committed to upgrading our irrigation systems with the Toro irrigation telemetry systems regularly, which is the leading irrigation software in the nation.
So, as much as we would like to see lush and green open spaces, the hot summer months are not helping. It does not mean we don’t care, and we will monitor the stressed areas closely.
“Grass can turn brown and go dormant when it’s stressed by drought, heat, or both. It’s your lawn’s way of conserving energy and water,” Mann explains. “The grass will break dormancy and begin growing again when the temperatures and/or rainfall levels become more ideal for it. Note that when dormancy ends, grass leaves that have turned brown won’t revive, but new leaves will appear.”
How IHCA Prioritizes Irrigation Needs:
The first tier of prioritization is mainline breaks or pump failures. These breaks can waste water at the fastest possible rate, while causing property and landscape damage at the same time. After-hours breaks are handled by community association staff and/or the city.
Second tier refers to stuck-on valves or timer troubles, which can leave a system running for hours or longer.
Third tier is system-wide problems such as a controller failure, where nothing operates. This is urgent but not an emergency as property damage is not immediately occurring. Most landscapes will survive this for a time, although turf and flowers will show some wear and tear.
Fourth tier means lateral broken lines or failed zone valves, which affect individual zones. At this level, the problem is just one zone in a larger system.
Fifth tier is often individual broken sprinklers or cut drip tubing.
Other areas: Additional water sources throughout the community are not serviced by IHCA, such as City of Issaquah, King County, Regency Centers and apartment complexes. If you see a problem in these areas, IHCA will work with these entities as needed for irrigation and landscaping compliance.
IHCA staff does not repair privately owned systems in single-family home lots.
What Can You Do to Help?
- First, please let IHCA know if you see a problem. Contact us through the IHCA mobile app or email asktheIHCA@Ihcommunity.org. Call 425-427-9257 during normal business hours (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) from Monday to Friday. We will prioritize it right away.
- If there is water shooting in the air or pouring down the street, that is a big line break. Please call our office during normal business hours at 425-427-9257. In the case of an after-hours emergency, call 425-223-8887. The City of Issaquah Public Works may be able to assist in large main line breaks as well—call 425-837-3070.
- We ask that you help in any way you can by watering the grass turf, streetscapes and landscaping around your home with a hose—if possible—until we are able to resolve the issue.
Note: Trees will also stress out and loose leaves in the extreme heat. They do this to self-protect and will bounce back with cooler temperatures and precipitation.
IHCA will not immediately remove trees if they are stressed. Trees that fail to thrive or get run over will be removed and replaced in the winter months unless they pose an immediate threat to safety. Unfortunately, we have lost over 30 street trees this year alone due to distracted or impaired drivers.
Thank you for your patience during these extremely hot summer days.
— IHCA Staff
