Published: July 9, 2020

With the summer heat peaking, it’s a wonder that ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½Æƽâ°æÏÂÔØ lawns stay pristine. Here are 10 interesting facts about CU’s irrigation system which gets the job done:

  1. Norlin Quad across from Guggenheim buildingCU has the largest centrally-controlled irrigation system west of the Mississippi River.

  2. All told, campus has over 66,000 sprinkler heads.

  3. The sprinklers are controlled via radio signal.

  4. Almost all watering is done between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m.

  5. Over 80 percent of the water comes from Anderson Ditch, which runs along Broadway from Boulder Creek.

  6. CU estimates it saves $440,000 annually from using ditch water instead of treated city water.

  7. The irrigation system is able to adjust water usage based on information provided from three weather stations on campus.

  8. The campus has seven ponds which hold a three-day back-up water supply.

  9. Five pump stations, located throughout campus, provide pressure to the irrigation system.

  10. There are three full-time irrigation technicians.

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