Irrigation

Diminishing Water

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Many times, and especially easy to spot in parking lot islands, you will notice plants that look increasingly dry as you go from one end of the area to the other. Some possible causes are:A leak in the area is preventing all of the plants on this line from being watered.Leaks in other areas are allowing water...

Pooling Water

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Here is a very common occurrence - pooling water in a low area of grass. It's possible that the sprinkler zones were not planned appropriately to accommodate the slope. Or, there may be an overlapping spray pattern that is causing overwatering. The heads may not be adjustable, or they may not be adjusted correctly.

Wrong sprinkler heads

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

It is very important to choose the right sprinkler heads for the job. In this case, the grade is sloped significantly and the sprinklers at the top of the hill are emitting too much water. The water quickly floods the area and runs down hill, preventing it from saturating the ground. As a result, the grass is very thin and dry.

Wasted water

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Water is being wasted and can immediately be seen in two aspects - there is significant overspray on the road and there is pooling in the grass. The water may be on for too long, but more importantly, the configuration of the heads is not optimal. The spray pattern needs to be adjusted and the heads need to be changed to one with a more efficient saturation rate.

Leaking for a while

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This leak has been leaking long enough that there is algae in the water. This is a mosquito hazard, the city may issue a citation, and it's a waste of water. At the first sign of a high water bill or standing water, leaks need to be fixed. The repairs are often very minor.

Leak affects concrete

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This leak is particularly problematic because it's keeping the surrounding concrete wet. The sidewalk and foundation, if left wet for too long, will eventually become damaged. This one has been wet for a long time as shown by the algae. The concrete also is showing wear from the water.

Lazy man's irrigation

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

It's just a little bit more work to bury the irrigation line than it is to run it on the outside of the planter, but so worth the effort! This looks rediculous and leaves the PVC exposed to the elements. It will eventually crack if not kicked or hit by something first. And surely there are many shades of tan that would match the facade much better than bright red.

Down the drain

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Water is being dumped right down the drain! This is an incredibly obvious waste of water, yet all too common. The irrigation time needs to be adjusted and the sprinkler heads analyzed for proper spray pattern and saturation rates. Often times with grass, less is more. Too much water does not make it greener or thicker, it can make it thin, diseased, and die altogether.