Dripline
30-40 minutes suggested run time for 10mm
15-20mm typical watering rate per hour
Remember your garden’s water needs change with the seasons, use your irrigation controller’s seasonal adjustment setting to avoid overwatering.
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How long should I run my sprinklers for?
Find the recommended run time for
Keeping your garden healthy while saving water is easier than you think. Overwatering not only wastes water but can also harm your plants and increase your water bill. The key? Setting the right sprinkler run times to ensure you're only using what you have to, which means you save water and money!
Quick tips
- Know your sprinkler type – Pop-up, rotary, gear drive, dripline or micro spray.
- Aim for 10mm per watering day, that’s all most WA gardens need.
- Check your watering days and only water before either 9am or after 6pm to reduce evaporation.
- Turn your sprinklers off when it rains and let nature do the work.
Different sprinklers water at different rates
Before you set the run times on your irrigation system, you should check what type of sprinklers you have in your garden. The common types of sprinklers found in home gardens include pop-up or fixed spray sprinklers, rotary sprinklers, gear drive rotors and dripline sprinklers.
Each type of sprinkler will water at different rates, which can make it tricky to know how long you should be running your irrigation at each station.
Run times for each sprinkler type
Pop-up & fixed spray
13-16 minutes suggested run time for 10mm
35-45mm typical watering rate per hour
Remember your garden’s water needs change with the seasons, use your irrigation controller’s seasonal adjustment setting to avoid overwatering.
Rotary
40-60 minutes suggested run time for 10mm
10-15mm typical watering rate per hour
Remember your garden’s water needs change with the seasons, use your irrigation controller’s seasonal adjustment setting to avoid overwatering.
Micro spray
13-16 minutes suggested run time for 10mm
35-45mm typical watering rate per hour
Remember your garden’s water needs change with the seasons, use your irrigation controller’s seasonal adjustment setting to avoid overwatering.
Gear drive rotary
30-40 minutes suggested run time for 10mm
10-20mm typical watering rate per hour
Remember your garden’s water needs change with the seasons, use your irrigation controller’s seasonal adjustment setting to avoid overwatering.
Waterwise Irrigation Rebate
Eligible customers can apply to receive a rebate of up to $200 when they engage an approved garden irrigator to address specific irrigation system issues.
Learn more