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Irrigation Evaluation

Irrigation Evaluation. Dotty Woodson Extension Program Specialist Water Resources Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Dallas Research and Extension Center. Water Issue – Is there Enough?. Population and development will double by 2060 New water resources will cost billions of dollars

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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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