Abnormal Winter Extreme in San Antonio 2021

Summery, timid winters are a normal to us in San Antonio. It has been common practice to shut down commercial irrigation systems at the source when we encounter occasional or prolonged freezing temperatures as past experiences have taught us. Few residential systems benefit from having contracted maintenance care. Commercial systems are a little more secure as they often benefit from having contracted care and a combined rain and freeze sensor. Most irrigation systems are even further secure as the backflow prevention assembly is a double check type that is installed below ground level and in an enclosure. Systems with Reduced Pressure Principle Assemblies (RPZs) are more inclined to the weather extremes as they are installed above ground. Even worse some of these RPZs lack winterization protection. Most residential systems with RPZs have the backflow assembly installed at the meter, those that have them installed next to the home or even better behind the fence line are farther protected from the elements. As we restore these systems back to operation, a more scrutinous inspection should be done. San Antonio practices conservation measures and even more on irrigation systems. Most systems have separate irrigation zones for landscape planting beds, these beds use risers to elevate the spray above planting material to promote even distribution. Some of these beds are at lower elevations than the source and retain water in the risers and are extremely prone to freeze damage. Another great conservation practice is to use check-type spray heads. These heads retain water in the pop-up body and are also extremely prone to freeze damage after prolonged freezing temperatures. Monthly irrigation checks have been crucial to conservation measures and a good “Best Maintenance Practice”. As stated earlier, a more scrutinous inspection will be needed after this weather extreme we just experienced.