WATER STEWARDSJanuary 31,2012

DO IT YOURSELF DRIP IRRIGATION

SYSTEMS

WHY CONSIDER?No great skill needed to install

No trenching required

No electrical connections necessary

No precise pipe connections to make

Inexpensive to install

DRIP IRRIGATION ADVANTAGESReduces loss

through evaporation

Eliminates runoffDoes not spray

leaves, petals, trunks thus reducing fungus potential

Does not waste water irrigating surrounding areas (discourages weeds)

ADVANTAGES

Reduces overall time to water a given area

Ensures consistent moisture to individual plants

Works especially well on difficult hillsides

Can be used for small irrigation additions

MINOR PROBLEMSOccasional minor adjustments do to:

Dogs chewingChildren kickingSpider web clogging

PLANNINGPlanning is essential

Draw a design to include all your plantings under consideration

Determine the size and requirement of each circuit/zone

About 200’ max per circuitMatches your needs to your purchases

PLANNINGThink “HYDROZONES”

Think drip and/or spray systemsSprayer systems for closely spaced systems

Drip systems for widely spaced plantings

Regardless, the system selected should cover 50% of the root zone

Think about the soil type in your garden area

TOOLS & OTHER BASIC MATERIALS NEEDEDTools…cutters and punchMaterials :

Garden hose?Staking device

OPTIONAL UPGRADESFilterTiming deviceFertilizer injector …needs anti-siphon valveAll sorts of interesting toys

TUBING & FITTINGS½” main tubing2 wall thicknesses .052 and .060 match fittings to wall

thickness 3/8” main tubing

TUBING AND FITTINGSFITTINGS (i.e. connectors)Used to connect pieces of

tubingFittings are color coded:

Red fittings for 3/8” tubingBlue and green for 1/2” tubing

Three insert typesCompression Barbed locking

EMITTERS & SPRAYERSEmitters let the water drip onto the

plant rootsGenerally come in three sizes

½ gallon per hour1 gallon per hour2 gallons per hour

Have barbed ends to fit into micro tubing

Color coded…color end into tubingAlso sprayers in ¼, 1/2, ¾ and full

turn

Also available as a pre-constructed line with emitters attached

SOME ADDITIONAL ITEMSPunches

Goof Plugs

Stakes

Output rate Number of emitters Placement

Vegetables -close spacing

½-1 GHP 1 Every 12”

Vegetables -widely spaced 1-2 GPH 1 At base of plant

Flower Beds 1 GPH 1 At base of plant

Ground Covers 1 GPH 1 At base of each plant

Shrubs2-3 ft tall

1 GPH 1-2 At plant base

Shrubs and Trees3-5 ft tall

1 GPH 2 12” opposite sides

Shrubs and Trees5-10ft tall

2 GPH 2-3 2 feet from trunk

Shrubs and Trees10-20 ft tall

2 GPH 3-4 3 feet apart at drip line

Trees Over 20 ft tall

2 GPH 6 or more 4 feet apart at drip line

INSTALLATIONEach main line (1/2”…large diameters)

diameter has a maximum length…200’Each micro line (1/4”) has a maximum

number of emittersIf possible try to connect emitters directly to

the larger drip tubing lines.

DRIP TUBING Diameter Flow rate Maximum Length

Polyethylene Tubing ½” 320 GPH 200 ft

3/8” 100 GPH 100 ft

¼” 15 GPH 25 ft

Heavy weight vinyl ¼” 10 GPH 20 ft

MAXIMUM TUBING LENGHTS

HELPFUL TIPSAllow ½” poly to sit in the sun

Buy a good punch

Measure twice …cut once

Maximum Number of EmittersTo determine the maximum number of emitters on each line:

For each ½” line add up the water volume of the emitters…maximum volume of emitters is 320 GPH

For each ¼” micro line maximum volume is 15 GPH

FINDING A SUPPLY SOURCELocalLowe’s and Home Depot Internet sourcesThe Drip Store

www.dripirrigation.comSprinkler Warehouse

www.sprinklerwarehouse.comDrip Works USA www.dripworksusa.com

QUESTIONS ?

WATER INFORMATIONA typical area of 20’X40’ (800 sq. ft.) requires

about 4000 gallons of water per monthGarden hoses deliver: Dia. Hose Flow gal/hr Hrs of watering1/2 “ 300 13hrs/mo5/8” 500 8hrs/mo3/4” 600 6.5hrs/mo