A water application device (10/100) for applying water in a garden watering system, the device (10/100) comprising: a main body (20/110) graspable along a handle portion (22/119) thereof by an operator, the main body (20/110) housing a flow control assembly configured to enable the device (10/100) to execute a control function relative to flow of water through the device (10/100); an operable member (30/140) operably coupled to the main body (20/110) to interface with the flow control assembly to alternately provide flow and stop flow through the device (10/100); and a flow channel formed inside the main body (20/110) to define a flow path between an inlet portion (26/114) and an outlet portion (24/112) of the device (10/100), the flow channel defining a plurality of critical areas in which water is enabled to collect when the water application device is not applying water, characterized in that at least a first compensator is provided in a first critical area and at least a second compensator (304/306/308) is provided in a second critical area, the first and second compensators (302/304/306/308) comprising compressible material configured to enable the first and second compensators (302/304/306/308) to be compressed within the first and second critical areas, respectively, to increase an effective volume of the first critical area and the second critical area, wherein the first critical area comprises an inlet area of the flow channel disposed between an inlet portion (26/114) and an on/off control assembly of the flow control assembly, wherein the second critical area comprises a first outlet area of the flow channel between an outlet portion (24/112) and a volume control assembly of the device (10/100), and wherein the first and second critical areas are each reservoirs formed in the water channel proximate to an internal functional component of the device (10/100), and wherein the reservoir in the water channel acting as a compensator receiver includes additional features or wherein the external periphery of a compensator is configured to include at least one retention rib. a main body (20/110) graspable along a handle portion (22/119) thereof by an operator, the main body (20/110) housing a flow control assembly configured to enable the device (10/100) to execute a control function relative to flow of water through the device (10/100); an operable member (30/140) operably coupled to the main body (20/110) to interface with the flow control assembly to alternately provide flow and stop flow through the device (10/100); and a flow channel formed inside the main body (20/110) to define a flow path between an inlet portion (26/114) and an outlet portion (24/112) of the device (10/100), the flow channel defining a plurality of critical areas in which water is enabled to collect when the water application device is not applying water, characterized in that at least a first compensator is provided in a first critical area and at least a second compensator (304/306/308) is provided in a second critical area, the first and second compensators (302/304/306/308) comprising compressible material configured to enable the first and second compensators (302/304/306/308) to be compressed within the first and second critical areas, respectively, to increase an effective volume of the first critical area and the second critical area, wherein the first critical area comprises an inlet area of the flow channel disposed between an inlet portion (26/114) and an on/off control assembly of the flow control assembly, wherein the second critical area comprises a first outlet area of the flow channel between an outlet portion (24/112) and a volume control assembly of the device (10/100), and wherein the first and second critical areas are each reservoirs formed in the water channel proximate to an internal functional component of the device (10/100), and wherein the reservoir in the water channel acting as a compensator receiver includes additional features or wherein the external periphery of a compensator is configured to include at least one retention rib.