Thanks to a much needed wet spring, most folks have just gotten around to turning on their irrigation systems. Just like automobiles, irrigation systems need periodic maintenance and tune ups. On the maintenance side, check all drip line filters and for those on community irrigation systems, check your master filter. Most filters should be checked at least at the beginning and end of each irrigation season. Check your spray zones to ensure nothing is broken or misaligned.
Replace the battery in your timer annually and make sure the timer is surge protected. Check your watering schemes...a regimen of Mon/Wed/Fri for each zone should suffice in spring and fall... and Sunday in summer. Pop up spray zones should run between 10-15 minutes depending on soil types and shade. Rotary spray zone between 35-45 minutes again depending on soil and shade types. Drip zones should run between 45-60 minutes. And most importantly do not mix spray zone types within a zone or mix spray with drip... the durations of one type or another will be compromised and something will suffer.
If you are finding dry spots in your turf, your coverage or spray type device may not be adequate or your durations are too minimal. There are new spray devices out there that are more effective and also variably adjustable nozzles that help with coverage on curves and/or irregularly shaped beds. If you are putting in new turf try one of the new drought tolerant turfs such as Turf Co's Xerilawn.
And lastly, override your system when it rains...we need to conserve that precious resource which we often take for granted.