Upper Midwest: Here Come Irrigation Rules

The Sioux Falls area's proposed ordinance is designed to address projected shortfalls in the Lewis & Clark Rural Water System.

Sioux Falls, South Dakota and environs are poised to adopt a rain-sensor ordinance and licensing requirements for irrigation installers.

Residents of Sioux Falls may soon be adding another piece of equipment to their sprinkler systems. Like dozens of other communities across the U.S., a proposed ordinance in the South Dakota city would require a rain sensor on all new irrigation systems.

The sensors override a system's timer cycle, shutting down the water after a certain amount of rainfall. The sensors also can be helpful with manual systems, in which owners must remember to turn the flow on and off.

The ordinance is the first from the city's water conservation committee, formed in response to mounting concerns about Sioux Falls' water supply.

The new rule would require sensors to trigger a sprinkler shutdown after one-quarter inch of rain has fallen. The devices are available in a wide price range, starting around $20. Although the ordinance would apply only to new systems, it expands the plumbing rebate program, offering $20 to $50 rebates for property owners who retrofit older connections.

Other provisions in the ordinance would establish licensing fees of $100 to $200 for those who install landscape irrigation systems, putting workers on par with master plumbers. Installers also would need to maintain a $10,000 surety bond.

The ordinance would not prevent homeowners from installing their own systems, but other guidelines would remain, including rain sensors. Private owners still must file for a building permit and pass work through a city inspection.

The council expects a first reading April 4 and a second reading and possible vote April 11.

Source: The (Sioux Falls) Argus Leader