May 1 marks the beginning of watering rules at Denver Water, and they become even more important as the summer heat settles into place.

And while you may not need to irrigate your landscape just yet, thanks to all the moisture we received this winter and spring, there are some important things to keep in mind when firing up your sprinkler system.

We asked James Walker, a senior field technician at Denver Water, to discuss the three biggest things people forget to check during watering season. Follow his advice to prevent water waste (and unnecessary spikes in your water bill).

Check 1: The settings on your sprinkler control box.

“Throughout the watering season, it's important that people continue to check and adjust their irrigation timers,” said Walker. “Make sure you don't set it and forget it.”

Check 2: The condition of your sprinkler heads.

“Many factors can contribute to leaks, including broken sprinkler heads,” he said. “That’s why frequent checks are important. If you have a leak, repair it as soon as possible.”

Check 3: The alignment of your nozzles and sprinkler heads.

“If your nozzles aren’t aligned properly, they can spray water high into the air or onto sidewalks and streets,” said Walker. “It’s also important to check after mowing, as it’s easy to knock heads out of alignment, or even break them."

Be sure to check out more tips and tools to help you water as efficiently as possible this year. Other summer watering resources:

• Time to demystify your sprinkler system
• Summer watering rules - no sweat
• Rules are made to be broken, except this one

Contributing: James Walker, Wale Williams, Steve Snyder and Jay Adams.