Frequently Asked Questions

A: Irrigation for 2024 has officially been turned on, as of March 22nd, 2024.

Be sure that your irrigation valve is completely open. 

It is also important to routinely clean your irrigation filter to ensure that your system is running smoothly.

A: This is by far the most common complaint that we receive each season. Quite often the “low pressure” is caused by a plugged filter. Homeowners should plan on routinely checking their filters to ensure proper operation throughout the irrigation season. If your filter is clean, try watering on an alternate schedule to avoid peak watering times (Midnight to 8am). Please visit our Irrigation Watering Schedule for more information.

If the situation persists after cleaning your filter and using an alternate watering schedule, please call the office (509) 735-2151.

A: 60 psi. This is the measured pressure with all your sprinklers off.

A: As an example, for a 1-acre lot with a 1-inch service, the maximum flow (GPM) per zone should not exceed 26 GPM. For lots with less than one acre fitted with a ¾”-inch service the max flow per zone should not exceed a range of 15-20 GPM depending on lot size.

A:  There are a few possible reasons and solutions for this.

•  If the amount you owe on either account is zero, you won't be able to find your bill.

• When entering your account number and street address, you must enter the numbers only to your house address in order to find your bill.

• If you're still having trouble searching for your bill on our site, you are welcome to give us a call at (509) 735-2151

A: The most used sprinkler for turf watering is the impact type. This sprinkler design is best suited for use with irrigation water. Gear drive sprinklers, while efficient and well-designed, are not really meant to be used with irrigation water. Drip systems are also very efficient and popular; however, a drip system requires special filtration when used with irrigation water.

A: We recommend the use of an inline wye-strainer as manufactured by Sonntag Machine & Manufacturing Company, Inc. Size: 1 ¼” or 2” depending on lot size and fitted with a 1/36” (1/36” = 690 micron = 24 mesh) 304 stainless steel perforated screen. 

Note: Typically, the irrigation water is the dirtiest during the annual spring runoff. The clearest period is generally from July to the end of the season in October. Refer to the Sonntag filter screen image for more information.

A: Yes. With few exceptions, Summit View Water Works has been able to provide irrigation water service to all customers on a “demand” basis. However, each year there are occasional peak demand periods when daily high temperatures exceed 100° F. When too many customers water at the same time, distribution line pressures can drop due to higher-than-normal flow velocities within a given pipeline. 

Summit View encourages you to water at a different time in the morning and/or evening. As per our Irrigation Watering Schedule . SVWW suggests following the turf watering guidelines as recommended by the WSU/Benton County Extension Service in Kennewick at (509) 735-3551 or local sod company. 

A: Yes. This is very important for a few reasons:

1. The valve can stop flooding or erosion within your property in the event of a pipe break or a blown sprinkler head. Its location and operation should be known to all family members.

2. This valve is necessary to enable the homeowner to temporarily shut-off the incoming pressurized irrigation water to allow for the periodic inspection/cleaning of the homeowner’s wye strainer.

3. This valve is essential for the proper blowout of the homeowner’s sprinkler system at the end of the irrigation season. This valve must be closed to allow compressed air to be admitted only to the homeowner’s irrigation system. Not Summit View Water Works.

4. Finally, having your own isolation valve eliminates the need to get into the adjacent Summit View Water Works valve box that serves your property. That box and fittings are the property of Summit View Water Works and reserved for Summit View Water Works use only.

A:  Yes, cold weather can cause your service meter to freeze.  If you suspect this please call our emergency number.

A: We currently do not have an automatic payment system for online credit/debit card payments. We have refrained from acquiring an automatic online payment processing service, in effort to avoid the impact it would have on our customer's rates.

However, a helpful remedy we can suggest is setting up an automatic bill pay with your bank. You may use an average bill amount (based on your average usage for each month) and have your bank send that amount each month. (Don't know your average bill amount? Feel free to call (509)735-2151 for assistance).