Transcript Simple Concepts in Irrigation

Simple Concepts in
Irrigation
Irrigation Conservation is Needed
• Households with in ground
spinkler systems use 35% more
water outdoors (AWWA)
• Households with automatic
timers use 47% more water
outdoors (AWWA)
Mechanical Controler
• Easy to set
• Must manually turn on timer
• Automatic shutoff
Battery Operated
Hose end
In-line
Automatic Timer
•More difficult to set
•Automatically turns irrigation on
• Automatic shutoff
Underground Valves
Irrigation Scheduling
• Know the rules in your area
• Schedule for conservation
What days?
What hours?
Stay out of trouble
Check your Ordinances
Backflow Prevention may be
required to prevent your
irrigation system from
contaminating water supplies
Watts.com
How much water?
Rule of thumb:
•Shrubs: up to once a week - apply one gallon of
water per foot of plant height
•Lawns: up to once a week up to one inch per application
•Trees: up to once a week
one inch of water under entire
canopy
*It’s best to water infrequently,
deep and early in the morning
How do I know how long
I need to irrigate?
Set out tuna cans or rain gauges
randomly throughout your lawn
Measure how much water
was applied and calculate how
long it will take to apply the
water you need
Check Uniformity of Application
Set out tuna cans or rain
gauges randomly throughout
your lawn
Individually turn on each irrigation
zone for 15 minutes. check to be
sure irrigation is uniform adjust
heads if irrigation isn’t uniform
Hit the target
Check for leaks
Don’t water the
pavement
Evaporative Water Loss - Inches
Reduce irrigation
when demand is low
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Rain Cutoff
Install an automatic rain cutoff device
Don’t water in the rain!!!
Moisture Meter
Another option for improved conservation
Spray Irrigation
Used to irrigate large uniform areas
Convert to Drip Irrigation
Conserve by watering individual plants
Drip System
Drip Irrigation Retrofit Kits
Pressure
Regulator
Filter
Check your Water Supply
Flow Rate (gallons per hour) =
(Bucket size in gallons / Seconds to fill)
* 3600 seconds per hr. * .75
Example: 5 gallon bucket took 30 seconds to fill
5 / 30 x 3600 x .75 = 450 gallons per hour
Pipes and fittings
Emitters
- Many shapes and styles
- Flow rate 0.5 – 10 gal./hr
- Pressure compensating
- Do not mix drip with micro spray
Layout
Example:
300 mature plants (4 feet tall)
- Plant requirement – 4 gallons
- Total requirement: 300 x 4 = 1200 gallons
- Supply = 450 gallons per hour
Possible Solutions:
- One zone, ½ ghp emitters for 8 hours (150 gph)
- One zone, 1gph emitters for 4 hours (300 gph)
- Two zones 2 ghp emitters for 2 hours (300 gph)