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FAQs

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions
When does the irrigation season start and stop?
The irrigation season is from early April until mid-October. The District is allowed to start diverting water April 1, when the system is flushed and filled in sections. This is when new leaks are often found in District and private lines that need repair which can further delay the water arriving at your parcel. Depending on the water demand, the Board decides the turn-off date, which is usually mid-October. 

Start and stop dates will be posted in Announcements and published in our Newsletters.
Are there any outages in the District right now?
We will post any known delivery issues on the Delivery Status page. If you are having a problem with your water, you can Report a Problem or Contact Us.
If I don't use my water, do I still have to pay for it?

Yes. The assessment you are billed on your property taxes is used to keep the irrigation delivery system in working order to deliver the irrigation water to the delivery point.

You are provided water at a rate of flow measured at the delivery point. We don’t meter or monitor how much water you use. The cost of meters and monitoring 2,200+ parcels would cost much more than the water lost during the occasional down time.

What is a Miners Inch?
One Miner’s Inch of water equals 11.25 gallons per minute. Also, the volume of water that flows through a one square inch opening under 6” of water pressure. One Miner's inch is adequate (beneficial use) to irrigate 2.5 Acres.
I have too much water pressure. Is there anything I can do about that?

One of the benefits of enclosing more and more of our system in underground pipes is that we’re able to capture some pressure. While that’s an advantage, some users find that older valves struggle with the new pressure. We suggest you replace old valves with a pressure-reducing valve if you’re experiencing this.

Why do I need to order water?
Ordering water is helpful to patrolmen all year, but is especially important during the first few weeks of ramp up and last weeks of the water season, to help maintain adequate flow for water users and avoid flooding or burning out pumps. You can Order Water online or Contact Us.
Who is responsible for broken pipes and leaks?

The District provides irrigation water to the delivery point at the appropriate levels. Private pipes, waterboxes and valves beyond the delivery is the responsibility of landowners. Leaks and breaks can be a messy, frustrating problem. We recommend users install private shut-off valves so that during repairs, your neighbors are not also without water.

When we need to shut down a delivery or section for emergency repairs on District lines, our office will attempt to contact you if we have your phone number or email. If you're not sure that we have emergency contact information for you, please Contact Us.

How many sprinklers can I run at a time?
This depends on how many Miner's Inches you have on your property. One Miner's Inch is 11.25 gallons per minute.  Many irrigation sprinklers range between 3-11 gallons per minute. An irrigation installation company can help determine the best system for your property.
What is a watermaster?
When parcels are subdivided to a point where one parcel is less than 2.5 acres or a water allotment to a parcel would be less than 1", one of the lots is designated the Watermaster to be the liasion between the water users and the irrigation district. A water covenant is required to be recorded with the Yakima County Auditor's Office. The watermaster is billed the full assessment and collects the pro rata share from the other water users (tenants).  Watermasters call NSID for all water orders and issues on behalf of the tenants.  Read the full Joint Water Right Policy.