Update On Aging Sprinklers on NE 41st Street Median

 The Laurelhurst Community Club (LCC) published an update about the long-time faulty irrigation system on the NE 41st Street median. The irrigation has had ongoing leaks and problems for many years. 

In 2014, residents living near the Center for Urban Horticulture reported major irrigation leaks in the strip between the Center for Urban Horticulture east entrance and Surber Drive NE. One resident said that there were "several curbside busted sprinkler heads that are gushing water" and that there was a " river of water running along the curb."

The UW Botanic Gardens said, at the time, that the leaks were coming from the seven non-operational valves and broken sprinklers.  He added that "the public probably thinks this is UW jurisdiction and wondering why it has not been repaired. It does not reflect a good public image to our organization as it relates to water conservation either."

The UW Irrigation Maintenance Mechanic Lead was able to turn down the valves and said that "it looked like they had not been serviced for years. There were broken sprinklers, plugged sprinklers, malfunctioning sprinklers, and possible broken piping. I turned down the valves themselves so that no water will run for now. They should not be run until significant repairs are made."

After conducting a survey of the immediate area to see if he could locate the water source or the controller he said that "Someone is turning it on and off as it does not run all year long. But it is not the UW. It is entirely possible that the water and the controls are coming from a neighboring house."  After more investigation by UW that that the actual irrigation controller is located in one of the adjacent homes.

The particular strip of landscaping belongs to the Laurelhurst Community and the City pays for the water.   

LCC published this information in a recent newsletter:

LCC Working With City On NE 41st Street Sprinklers 

Several LCC trustees have been working with the City of Seattle over the past year to develop a solution to address the aging sprinkler system problems on the NE 41st Street medians.

The seven medians were a collaboration in the 1980s between the City of Seattle (SDOT), the University of Washington, the Battelle Memorial Institute, and the Laurelhurst Community Club. The irrigation system was originally installed and operated by SDOT. 

Over the years, maintenance was neglected by SDOT and UW, leaving LCC to bear the entire expense of keeping the sprinkler system functional at a cost of several thousand dollars. 

Last fall, the SDOT irrigation team came out to assess the situation and determine the best course of action to update the system to reduce water waste.

In early February, SDOT installed new sprinkler controls, upgraded many of the sprinkler heads and installed an RF transmitter to remotely monitor the system for efficiency. They also re-routed a control box that had been located in a private garage back into the median. 

With SDOT upgrading its maintenance of the sprinkler system, LCC will be able to utilize the NE 41st Street median funds to improve the condition of the plants and landscape. These funds are raised through neighborhood donations during LCC’s annual dues drive. Occasional work parties organized by neighbors also contribute to median vegetation maintenance. 

The City recognizes Laurelhurst’s consistent efforts to maintain the trees, shrubs, and vegetation on these public medians, as well as those on the Boulevard (43rd Avenue NE). Because of our community’s participation and donations to keep up these City properties, SDOT was receptive to finding a solution to repair and upgrade the sprinkler system.