To the Editor:

Now that warmer weather is on the horizon and outdoor activities will return to the daily routines of most people, I wanted to record a couple of observations I made while walking last summer in my Fort Hunter neighborhood. These observations became more pertinent as a result of the low rainfall, broken water pipes in Albany, and the subsequent water emergency that was imposed last summer.

The first observation is that many homeowners do not manage their automatic sprinkler systems well.  When I have walked before 8 a.m. in the neighborhoods with sidewalks (Timothy and Coons roads), I have to walk in the street as the sprinklers are running from the edge of the road over the sidewalks.  I have seen folks with infants in strollers have to go out in the street to avoid getting wet.

In addition, if you walk or ride most of these streets there are 30 to 40 percent of the houses with automatic systems where the sprinkler head’s aim needs adjusting as the sprinklers are watering as much of the street as they are the lawn, or the head is broken and the water is just running down the road. The misaligned or broken heads are easy to identify by the watering pattern on the road.

And lastly, I have walked later in the day when sprinkler heads are going during the hottest time of the day, which defeats the purpose of watering.

I contacted the Guilderland water department and was told the town’s expectation for automatic sprinklers is for them to run from, I think I was told, 2 to 5 a.m. The vast majority do not run at these times.

So, to these homeowners, I encourage a few things. Adjust your timing for watering to limit the impact on pedestrians as much as possible. And for efficient use of watering: Adjust the timing so the sprinklers finish their job just before sunrise.

Watering during the hottest time of the day is not only inefficient, it also stresses the lawn more than at cooler, less sunny times. And check your system a few times each season to make sure the water is going where you want it to go and make necessary adjustments or repairs. Your pedestrian neighbors will appreciate it as much as your lawn.

Finally, during the watering restrictions last year, I also noted that the vast majority (75 percent) of houses with sprinkler systems running had no sign indicating they were running on a private well. So they are either running on the public system (which was not allowed last summer) or are not willing to put up a sign.

With global warming being what it is and the likelihood we will have more restrictions from time to time in the future, I suggest the town create a uniform sign identifying homes connected to private wells and require those homeowners to obtain one and display it.

It seems to me you have to prove you live in the town to get a park and landfill pass and to get a resident card for the golf course but, with use of the town water supply versus private wells by automatic systems, you do not.

I would not be allowed in the parks as a resident by showing a piece of paper that reads, “I live in Guilderland” as proof.  With the number of automatic sprinkler systems now installed, it is the right thing to do. It is also a matter of public safety as adequate pressure is needed in the event of a fire.

If automatic systems are always connected to private wells, then it is a moot point I am making. But I am not certain that is the case. So, at the very least, the watering regulations need to be clarified to better align the rules with what is happening “in the ground” or not.

Jim Pickett

Guilderland