Measuring Lawn Sprinkler Output

Sprinkler output can vary depending on your system design and water pressure.

Here's a simple and fun method to measure your sprinkler output. This is a great activity for Children!

Collect 6 to 8 shallow , flat-bottomed cans like tuna or cat food cans. Spread the cans around your lawn 4 to 5 feet apart, then turn on each valve or station of your sprinklers for 15 minutes. When the sprinklers turn off, measure the depth of water in each can (in 10ths of and inch). Record your numbers, then add the mesurements together and divide by the number of cans to get the average depth. This is your sprinkler number - the amount of water in inches that your sprinkler system applies in 15 minutes.

On average, pop-up sprinklers apply 0.4 inches of water in 15 minutes, and impact sprinklers apply 0.2 inches of water in 15 minutes. You will typically see some variation in measurement from can to can. However, if you see big differences (greater than .2"), you may need to modify or adjust the sprinkler system to get more uniform and efficient coverage. After you've completed any modifications, repeat the can test.