IRRIGATION

GENERAL INFORMATION & REQUIRED DETAILS:

• If possible use plants that are drought resistant that won’t require an irrigation system.

• Contact local water municipality to determine if your site can install a separate water meter (deduct meter) for your irrigation system. This will remove the sewer charge for the water consumption used by the irrigation system.

• Consider using well water for the irrigation system. There will be upfront costs to dig the well and install the pump but it should have a quick payback. If a well exists at the site, review any documentation on the well capacity and pump performance. You will need the following:

  • the capacity of the well in gallons.

  • the gallons per minute (gpm) the pump can provide at a steady flow. (Not just the initial rate which is typically higher if there is accumulated water.)

• If an irrigation system exists at your site or you are considering installing one, follow these guidelines:

  • Must include an irrigation controller with cycle and soak settings to prevent waste from runoff and over-watering.

  • Must include a sensor to automatically shut off during rain events. (Rain sensor will override any pre-programmed water schedule in the case of a weather event.)

  • Install a back-flow preventer per local code regulations.

  • Use Water Sense certified components (sprinkler heads, controllers, etc) whenever possible.

  • Consider using a drip irrigation system or soaker hoses in planter beds.

  • Minimize slopes in the landscape due to potential erosion and excessive runoff. If slopes are already present, use plants with deeper roots such as native ground covers and shrubs to stabilize and prevent erosion and unnecessary water waste from runoff.

    • To reduce watering demands, keep plants with similar needs near each other.

  • Set up a watering schedule with zones based on the plant type and their recommended water schedule. Periodically test effectiveness of water schedule.

  • Installing high efficiency sprinkler heads and reduced pipe diameters for the irrigation lines increase the efficiency and reduce water consumption.

    • Space sprinkler head bodies for proper head-to-head coverage to avoid dry patches or large areas of overlap.

    • Make sure sprinklers are not positioned to spray onto non-landscaped areas such as sidewalks or parking lots.

    • To prevent over spray and runoff, above ground irrigation is not appropriate within 24” of any non-permeable surface.

    • Avoid watering too close to obstructions such as light poles, fences signs, etc.

    • Set sprinklers to water early in the morning (before sunrise) to prevent high evaporation rates.

    • Use sprinkler heads that regulate the pressure so it won’t cause overuse through misting, fogging or uneven coverage.

    • Replace sprinkler heads that operate at or above 60psi with Water Sense spray sprinklers to save water use.

    • Always use sprinkler heads with flexible connections.

    • At sites where clay soil is predominant (dense and absorbs water slowly), implement a low flow watering schedule.

• Preventative maintenance:

  • Once a month run your system manually to check for leaks or breaks.

  • Adjust the water schedule based on plant type, soil type, sun exposure, site grading, climate, and the change in season to maintain efficiency.

  • Require a full audit of the irrigation system every 3 years to ensure it continues to perform efficiency.

  • In climate zones experiencing freeze cycles, winterize the irrigation system:

    • Drain the system to prevent pipes from freezing.

    • Blow out the lines with compressed air.

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