Flood Irrigation Services
2009 Schedules and Information

Flooding Emergencies:  If you have a flooding emergency please call our 24 hour emergency hotline number   480-350-2837 

Please note: The City of Tempe does not provide flood irrigation services on weekends. However SRP does deliver water to its "self-serve" customers on weekends.  To report flooding on weekends, please contact SRP Customer Service. 602-236-3333

Flood Irrigation Services

The City of Tempe provides Flood Irrigation Service to approximately 1000 residential customers and 16 City Parks. Our service includes operation and maintenance of the system infrastructure.

City of Tempe Irrigators control the delivery of water to each property by opening and closing the main gates and customer valves in a specific sequence. The Irrigators serve multiple properties and subdivisions at once, and must carefully maintain the amount of flow and pressure to each gate, pipe and property to ensure proper coverage and efficient use of water and time. Unless there is a flooding emergency, it is not necessary or advisable for customers to operate their own valves. Doing so causes unexpected increases or decreases in system pressure that can lead to  flooding or shorting another customer. The Irrigators visually monitor the water level of each yard during the irrigation sequence. Due to the number of houses being irrigated at any particular time, the Irrigators are not usually able to stay onsite for each property as it fills. If there is a condition that prevents the complete irrigation of the property (such as a leaking berm) the Irrigator will note the condition on a door-hanger style notice to alert the occupant of the problem. If the billing address is different than the service address, the Irrigator will send a postcard style notice to the billing address.

The irrigation system is a gravity feed system, no pumps are used at any point in the system. The amount of water released from the Granite Reef Dam, located in east Mesa, is based on the combined water orders received by SRP. For this reason, water must be ordered in advance of the actual delivery date. The released water takes about 24 hours to reach the Tempe Canal, where it is diverted to our Tempe residents.

The City of Tempe irrigation system is a user network that serves, and is maintained, by those who use it. Tampering with the delivery of water, opening a gate or valve in order to receive water that has not been allocated, is illegal. To report water theft, vandalism, graffiti, or suspicious behavior, please contact the City of Tempe Police Department at  480-350-8311                                      

What is an Irrigation "run"?

The term Irrigation "run" is one order of water delivered to an area through a specific SRP main gate.
Tempe irrigation runs begin on Sunday nights at 10:00PM and continue 24 hours per day until each account has been irrigated. The only exception being if Monday is an observed holiday, in which case we may postpone delivery to our residents yards and parks, so they may be used and enjoyed on those holiday weekends. Unless there are complications with delivery, runs are generally completed by Thursday of each week. Fridays are used to perform emergency repairs and/or maintenance to the system. The exact time (day or night) you  receive water during a run is approximate, and depends largely upon your location within the area being irrigated and the variables listed below.

• The delivery schedule of Salt River Project and it's ability to provide water in the canal system
• System capacity (pressure and flow capability of pipes)
• The number of active accounts in each subdivision
• The condition of the properties, including adequate berms, the amount of debris or length of grass, and overall soil conditions (moist from recent rain or completely dry)
• Lot sizes of the properties within the subdivision
• Equipment or system tampering
• Main breaks that force the system to be shut down for repair
• Line condition (pipes plugged with roots or debris)

Each of these variables affect how effectively water can be delivered throughout the system. Water is usually delivered on the  scheduled delivery date (below). If your water is more than two days late, please contact the Water Utilities Department at 480-350-2837. Normal business hours are Mon.- Fri. between  6am and 4pm.

For 2009, one irrigation run  will be delivered in January, February and March. Beginning April 5th, runs will proceed every two weeks non-stop through October, for a total of 18 runs. This schedule ensures that ample water will be available during the hottest months of the year. No irrigation water will be delivered during the SRP dry-up period in November and December.

What and Where is the "valve"

Irrigation valves, sometimes called ports, are ground-level faucets that control the release of water to each property. Valves have a center "stem" used to open and close the valve. The Irrigator opens the valve to a set point, based on the size and flow characteristics of each property. Valves can be located anywhere on the property, but are usually about three or four feet from the irrigation main beneath streets or alleyways.  

What is a "berm" ?

A berm is an earthen ridge or raised area of dense soil that retains water within an area, or prevents water from entering a structure or other areas you do not want water. Berms surround the perimeter of most irrigated properties and homes. Berms are constructed using a clay type soil to create the ridges, then lightly sprinkling them with water to settle them into place over time. As grass grows, berms become more resistant to erosion and collapse. As a general rule for ease of maintenance, berms should be three times as wide as they are tall. This dimension allows for cutting the grass without scalping, and also helps to prevent shearing the top off the berm with the lawn mower.  Also keep in mind that berm design should allow water to safely spill into a street or alley rather than enter any structure, patio, storage shed etc.   

What is a "conduit" ?

A conduit is a pipe that conveys water from one part of the yard to another. Conduits are often placed under driveways and sidewalks allowing water to reach from one side to the other. Conduits should be flushed out after the Fall to remove leaves and debris. A garden hose equipped with a spray nozzle works well.

~ Helpful Tips for a Complete Irrigation of Your Property ~

• If possible, watch your yard as it is being irrigated. Look for any obstructions or resistance to flow. Fill in low spots in berms and grade the property as needed. Ensure the property is ready to safely receive and retain water. Ensure water cannot enter any structures.
• Pets must have refuge from the area to be irrigated
• Trim grass to less than six inches. Doing so allows the Irrigator to monitor the flow and depth of water.
• Flush out conduits to remove debris
•  Remove items from the yard that may be damaged by water or pose a safety hazard to the irrigator
• Provide clear access to the irrigation valve. The irrigators may actuate your valve by using a small step ladder to reach over a wall or fence from the alleyway. Please ensure the area behind any walls or fences (near the irrigation valve) is kept free of debris.
• To temporarily skip or cancel your irrigation for one or more runs, please call Customer Service at 480-350-8361

Find your subdivision in the left column. If you don't know which one is your subdivision, use the bordering streets to identify the area of your property.

2009 FLOOD IRRIGATION SCHEDULE - WEEK ONE

 2009 FLOOD IRRIGATION SCHEDULE - WEEK TWO

Printable Subdivision Schedule                                                   Printable Calendars:
Tempe Irrigation Schedule                                                                2008 Irrigation Schedule

                                                                                                              2008 Parks Irrigation Schedule  

If you have questions about the irrigation billing or your account status, please contact Customer Services (Monday - Friday from 8:00am to 5:00) at 480-350-8361.