Looking at a Tempe home with flood irrigation or planning to redesign your yard around it? Done right, flood irrigation can deeply water trees, keep turf healthy, and fit local rules without creating headaches. In this guide, you’ll learn how Tempe’s system works, what to design in your yard, how to avoid mosquito and drainage issues, and what buyers and sellers should know. Let’s dive in.
Flood irrigation in Tempe 101
Flood irrigation here means surface delivery of canal water to your yard through neighborhood gates, valves, and simple berms that hold water in place. The Salt River Project (SRP) supplies the water and Tempe coordinates deliveries for parks and about 850 residential customers. The City maintains roughly 37 miles of irrigation mains and publishes schedules, tips, and reminders like trimming grass and maintaining berms. Water is not provided during SRP “dry‑up,” which typically occurs in November and December. You can review program details on the City’s Flood Irrigation page from the City of Tempe’s website.
SRP provides seasonal delivery windows that neighborhoods follow. You sign up, order water for set time increments, and coordinate with neighbors so flows move safely through the system. Learn more about how the system operates on SRP’s flood irrigation overview page.
Schedules, ordering, and rules
- SRP deliveries typically occur about every 14 days in summer and about every 28 days in winter, with exact timing set by neighborhood schedules. You can sign up, order, and cancel through SRP’s irrigation sign‑up resources.
- Tempe enforces a Water Waste Ordinance, so you must keep water on your property and maintain your system. If flooding leaves your property, Tempe directs residents to contact SRP’s hotline. See the City’s Water Waste Ordinance for details.
- The City asks that residents keep access clear, trim turf before runs, and allow City staff to operate valves when required. Check Tempe’s Flood Irrigation guidance for residential customers.
Design your yard for smooth runs
Flood‑friendly yards rely on simple grading and low berms that guide water where you want it to go.
- Use shallow check basins or micro‑basins around trees and plant groupings to hold water long enough to soak in.
- For turf, design broad, level basins or borders that spread water evenly. Maintain berms so water does not escape to sidewalks or neighbor yards.
- Always plan a controlled overflow path, ideally to another basin or a rock‑armored swale, so sudden surges do not undercut soil.
For micro‑basin how‑tos and practical irrigation tips, see the University of Arizona WaterWise irrigation guidance.
Protect your foundation with proper grading
Your finished grade should slope away from the house so irrigation never ponds against the foundation. A widely used residential standard is about 6 inches of fall within the first 10 feet, or an approved alternative like a swale or drain where that slope is not possible. Review common grading guidance summarized here.
- Keep berms set back from the foundation.
- Do not let runs flow toward patios, driveways, or walls.
- Where space is tight, use a shallow swale to carry overflow toward a safe basin.
Tempe soils, caliche, and percolation
Many Tempe yards contain caliche or clay loams that slow infiltration. Before you size basins or set run times, do a simple percolation test and see how quickly water drains in different parts of your yard. The University of Arizona explains how caliche affects planting and drainage and offers management strategies.
Design your basins so they drain within about 24 to 36 hours to reduce mosquito risk. Watershed Management Group’s rain‑garden resources provide step‑by‑step testing and design tips you can use for small basins.
Health and mosquito-smart practices
Standing water breeds mosquitoes. Maricopa County Vector Control recommends eliminating standing water around the home and ensuring pooled water does not persist for more than a few days. Keep drains clear, empty small containers, and monitor shaded areas after each run. See Maricopa County’s Vector Control guidance and backyard checklist for practical steps.
Hybrid irrigation that saves water
You can pair flood delivery with targeted irrigation to fit plant needs and reduce waste:
- Use flood runs for deep tree and turf watering.
- Add drip or bubblers to micro‑basins for hedges, shrubs, and new plantings that need more frequent but smaller doses.
For ideas on micro‑basin bubblers and plant‑by‑plant strategies, explore UA WaterWise irrigation tips. If you plan to upgrade equipment or convert grass areas, check Tempe’s current high‑efficiency irrigation and grass removal rebate programs.
Planning yard changes and permits
If you plan major regrading or deeper basins, check stormwater and drainage rules. Projects that disturb soil or create basins deeper than about one foot can trigger engineered drainage requirements, including drain‑down calculations. Review Maricopa County’s stormwater permit guidance before you start.
Buyer and seller tips for Tempe homes
Buying in a flood‑irrigated neighborhood means understanding the system, schedules, and responsibilities.
- Buyers: Ask for system maps and valve locations, SRP account information, recent repair records, and any HOA or Irrigation Water Delivery District (IWDD) documents that outline funding and maintenance. SRP explains how IWDDs are formed and managed.
- Sellers: Disclose participation in flood irrigation, any known drainage or standing‑water issues, and recent system repairs. Mature tree canopy supported by deep watering can be a positive, while evidence of chronic ponding near structures can raise buyer concerns.
- Planning to convert or remove turf: Review Tempe’s rebate programs before you make permanent changes.
Quick start checklist
- Confirm your SRP account and know your neighborhood schedule.
- Walk your yard and sketch simple basins, berms, and safe overflow paths.
- Test infiltration in a few spots and set modest first run times.
- Maintain berms and keep access clear for City staff when needed.
- Keep water away from your foundation and hardscapes.
- Monitor for mosquitoes and clear standing water after each run.
- Coordinate with neighbors and cancel early if plans change.
- Explore Tempe rebates for efficiency upgrades or turf changes.
If you want help evaluating a Tempe property with flood irrigation or you’re planning to sell and want to highlight the benefits of a well‑designed yard, reach out to Ceejay Cesiel. As an East Valley specialist, Ceejay blends local guidance with premium marketing to help you move with confidence.
Contact Ceejay Cesiel to get started.
FAQs
What is flood irrigation in Tempe and how does it work?
- SRP supplies canal water to neighborhoods, and Tempe operates a residential program that coordinates deliveries through shared gates and valves; homeowners maintain berms and order runs on set schedules via SRP resources.
How often is water delivered and how do I order?
- Deliveries are seasonal, often about every 14 days in summer and 28 in winter, and you order or cancel time slots through SRP’s irrigation sign‑up system.
How do I keep water away from my foundation during runs?
- Maintain grading that slopes away from the house, keep berms set back, and use swales or drains where needed so water never ponds near walls or slabs.
What should buyers ask about a Tempe home with flood irrigation?
- Request maps of valves and gates, SRP account details, recent repair history, and any HOA or IWDD documents that explain maintenance responsibilities and funding.
Do I need permits to regrade or add a basin in my yard?
- Minor shaping is common, but significant grading or basins deeper than about one foot can trigger stormwater rules, so review Maricopa County’s stormwater permit guidance before work.
How can I prevent mosquitoes when using flood irrigation?
- Design basins to drain within about 24 to 36 hours, clear small containers, maintain drains, and follow Maricopa County Vector Control’s backyard checklist after each run.
