I’ve received several complaints about CalTrans irrigating Highway 163 during recent rainstorms. The latest came today from a reader who pinpointed the area: Landscaping at the 163 and Clairemont Mesa Boulevard. Two readers said the freeway was irrigated during Thanksgiving’s rainfall. One said it was again being watered Monday night after the day’s deluge.
Edward Cartagena, a CalTrans spokesman, blamed human error. CalTrans crews sent to turn off sprinklers when it’s raining sometimes don’t turn them all off.
As I noted in my story today:
[M]any sprinklers are manually programmed to water three times a week in summer, twice a week in spring and fall and once a week in winter. Because they’re not easily adjustable, the sprinklers can operate even during rainstorms unless CalTrans staff shut them off, one-by-one.
If you see CalTrans wasting water, send me an e-mail at rob.davis@voiceofsandiego.org with the location and call CalTrans at 619.688.6670.