Water and Sewer

Smart Irrigation Controllers

Application deadline is Aug. 31

Your in-lawn irrigation system could be wasting water and money. Most sprinklers run on a timer, but they don’t take into account whether or not the lawn actually needs watering. Irrigation systems can run too long or too often – leading to overwatering. This can be a drain on your water bill, a waste of water, and create shallow root systems that are bad for your lawn. 

Smart irrigation controllers – which can be purchased at most home improvement stores – act like a thermostat for your sprinkler system. They use local weather reports and forecasts to determine how much it has rained in recent days and how much it’s expected to rain in the near future. Using this information, the controller can then turn on and off automatically when it will be most effective for the lawn.

Irrigation controllers require a smart phone for set up and a Wi-Fi connection to monitor weather conditions.

Water Bill Credit Available

Burnsville residents can receive a credit on their water bill by purchasing and installing a smart irrigation controller. The credit will cover the cost of the irrigation controller up to $200 (for instance, if the irrigation controller cost $150 the water bill credit will be $150 -- if the controller cost $250 the water bill credit will be $200). To request a credit, residents must:

  • Have an in-lawn irrigation system that is connected to the City’s wEPA’s WaterSense Logoater supply
  • Purchase and install a WaterSense-certified smart irrigation controller
    (controllers purchased between Jan. 1 – Aug. 15, 2023 qualify for the credit)
  • Fill out and submit an online credit request
    • Include a photo/scan of the receipt/proof of purchase
    • Include a photo of the irrigation controller’s box showing the WaterSense logo alongside the installed controller

Requests are due by Thursday, Aug. 31.

Emergency Water/Sewer Situations

Sewer Backup or Blockage

If you are experiencing a sewer backup:

  • Between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday-Friday call 952-895-4550
  • After 3:30 p.m. and on weekends call: 9-1-1. City crews will be dispatched to assess the request.

Who is Responsible?

If it is determined that the blockage/restrictions DOES NOT exist within the City's sanitary sewer system, homeowners will be is advised to contact a professional plumber or drain-cleaning service for a private sewer service inspection. The City of Burnsville cannot make a recommendation for drain-cleaning services. It may be in your best interest to obtain several estimates.

If the problem is in the sewer service from the property to the City's sewer main, the property owner will be responsible for correcting the problem. The owner of the property is responsible for maintaining and cleaning this private section of sewer, including the connection to the sewer main.

Many homeowner insurance policies exclude damage resulting from sewer backups. However, some insurance companies do provide sewer backup coverage. If you are concerned about sewer backups and want to insure that you are covered, check with your home insurance policy about the availability of sewer backup insurance.

Water Leaks

Every home and business has a water meter to measure the amount of water used by a property which is used to calculate a monthly utility bill. Meters can be located in various locations throughout a home or business, but generally will be located in the laundry room or furnace areas.

If the digital display is incrementing up and no one in the home is running water there is a leak in the plumbing. Since the digital display records down to 1/1,000 of a gallon even the smallest leaks can be detected. If you notice a leak, get it fixed to conserve water and avoid increases in water bills. Leaks can occur in many difference places and generally the significant leaks are not easily visible. The most commons leaks are with toilets and water softeners.

Learn how to read your water meter and find a leak in a toilet or water softener