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Irrigation Evaluation

Learn about the importance of efficient irrigation practices to conserve water resources in Dallas, Texas. Discover tips for evaluating and improving your irrigation system to save water and money while maintaining a healthy landscape.

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Irrigation Evaluation

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  1. Irrigation Evaluation Dotty Woodson Extension Program Specialist Water Resources Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Dallas Research and Extension Center

  2. Water Issue – Is there Enough? • Population and development will double by 2060 • New water resources will cost billions of dollars • Conservation is the easiest and least expensive way to make our water resources sustainable

  3. Efficient Irrigation • Future sustainable landscapes must use water as efficiently as possible

  4. Current Situation • Water usage increases 35 to 70% during the summer

  5. How Many Gallons • One acre = 43,560 square feet ▪ One-acre feet of water = 26,136 gallons ▪ Every time you apply one inch of water to your landscape, you apply 0.623 gallons of water per square foot • 1/5 acre = 8,712 square feet • 8,712 x 0.6 = 5,227 gallons • 5,227 x 16 irrigations = 83,632 gallons

  6. Efficient Irrigation • How Often • How Long • When • Seasonally

  7. Efficient Irrigation

  8. Even Distribution of Water

  9. Irrigation System Evaluation vs Irrigation System AuditsThere is a difference

  10. Irrigation Evaluation • Most irrigation systems are not efficient • 60% or less • Poorly maintained • Leaks, Misaligned heads, etc • Rain and Freeze senor • Adjust controller each season • Conserve water • Save money

  11. Irrigation Evaluation Purpose: • Check Irrigation Efficiency • Create an Efficient Irrigation Schedule • Identify Problems with Irrigation System • Potential Water Savings • Potential Dollar Savings • Improved Water Distribution • Increased Quality of Landscape • Excellent Neighbor Relations • Most Accurate Method to Determine Run Times

  12. Irrigation Evaluation ▪Site Inspection with Home or Business Owner/Representative • Run each Zone/Station • IdentifyProblems ▪ Irrigation Scheduling • Irrigationfrequency • Runtimesperzone

  13. Most Common Problems • Clogged nozzle • Misaligned heads • Misdirected heads • Mismatched heads • Leaking or Broken pipes/heads/valves • Too high or too low water pressure • Irrigation head too low • Grass too high • Tree, shrubs, groundcover grown to block irrigation • Poor Design • Dry landscape areas or poor coverage • Water bubbling, dripping or gushing all the time • Runoff occurs before adequate water applied • Area along road, driveway or sidewalk stays too dry

  14. Catch Can Test • Place 5 to 9 catch cans (tuna or cat food cans work great) in each irrigation zone or station. • Run each zone for 3 minutes To determine run time (time each station should run) • Some irrigation systems apply water faster than the ground will absorb 1 inch of the water so water run off. To this, you may need to run these stations several short times instead of one long time. • If the water level in each catch can varies greatly, go through the Irrigation Check to help identify problems • Test each zone. Water application and distribution can vary by zone.

  15. New Irrigation TechnologySaves Water • Replace wasteful spray nozzles with water saving multi-stream nozzles • Hunter Industries • MP Rotator • Toro • Precision • Rain Bird • Rotary Nozzle

  16. Soak and Cycle • Determine how long to run each zone (see ‘Catch Can Test’) • Water these areas in 2 or 3 short cycles or 4 cycles if on a slope instead of 1 long cycle. • Wait 20 to 30 minutes between cycles. • Most irrigation controllers have a way to set different start times. If you have trouble programing your controller, visit the irrigation controller company’s web site or contact their customer service for instructions. • Some newer controllers have a soak and cycle settings, so this may be a good time to upgrade your irrigation controller.

  17. Resources • http://irrigation.tamu.edu/ • http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/ • http://texaset.tamu.edu/ • http://turf.tamu.edu/ • http://rainwaterharvesting.tamu.edu/ • http://dallas.tamu.edu/

  18. For More Information Dotty Woodson Extension Program Specialist- Water Resources Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department Texas A&M AgriLife Extension 17360 Coit Road Dallas, Texas 75252 972-952-9688 D-woodson@tamu.edu

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