Irrigation Systems

[Dominic]

We inherited an irrigation system in our back garden. Over the winter it conked out, when the batteries in the control unit leaked. I have since repaired it, but it has reset itself.

I have found a manual, and worked out how to set up a program, my issue is this: how long should I let it run for?

The system covers 10 areas. One area at a time gets irrigated. Some areas use drip lines to trickle water into the soil. The grass itself has three areas, each of which poke a sprinkler up into the air for a watering.

I am only after rough estimates, but how long would you set the cycle for A. trickle irrigation and B. sprinkler system.

Any tips would be helpful.

[cyprusmax47]

Every garden needs different watering times and intervals one has to find out for Spring/Autumn and Summer period. Also the type of plants is important and the water pressure.(and size of pipes, lengths.) For example I found out that the garden of a friend at Marathounda village is perfect watered when the setting of the water computer is 1 hour 3 times a week for drop irrigation, 100m pipe, 16mm. In Juli/Aug setting is 2 hours. Water pressure 2 bar.
There are some Citrus trees, 10 years old which need extra water twice a week with the hose. (app.40 liter)
Watering the grass is up to the type of grass you have. If it is African type it would be enough 2 times a week for 15 min. in hot Summer.

Max

[surreyboy]

I agree with cyprusmax47, but would add that it is important to select the right time of day to activate the irrigation systems. Evening time is probably the best, so that you are not wasting water via heat burn off during the day. Also trickle systems are far more efficient than sprinklers, which usually need more pressure and flow to work properly. Having said that, all battery operated irrigation systems need to be monitored regularly as they are notoriously un-reliable, so don't assume that you can just set them and leave them. And don't set them until the dry weather arrives!

[cyprusmax47]

Surreyboy

You are right, I forgot to mention that a good setting is at night after midnight, then the pressure is normally OK.
Important is also to replace the batteries every 6 month if you have the type of 9v block. (I use rechargeable ones)
Max

[cyprusmax47]

just to show how a dense subtropical garden can look if you water with my recommendation of 3 times a week, 1-2 hours at night....

[Dominic]

It used to run every night, I know that much.

Most of it is a trickle system, it is only the grass that gets the sprinkler.

I guess I will have to take a punt and adjust if things don't look right.

[cyprusmax47]

If one waters every day the plant roots stop growing deep enough to be drought-resistant.

[Dominic]

Ok so I now have two things take away from this:

A. Don't run it every night.
B. Keep an eye on the water meter.

I can monitor B from today, then start the irrigation in about a week's time. That way I will be able to see immediately the effect.

How on Earth did they manage to get a 12k bill though? They must have been living in a quagmire.

[Jim B]

I ended up with a four and a half thousand € bill after an underground leak. In our case water flows down hill and the ground around the house was dry but the field below was nice and green which was what alerted me.

Jim

[Dominic]

Blimey. Definitely keeping an eye on that meter then.

Did they make you pay it too? I would imagine the farmer was very appreciative.

[cyprusmax47]

Also a faulty water meter can lead to high bills. I learned my lesson many years ago when for a sudden my water bill was much higher then all the years before. Water board wanted me to pay for extra 2000 tons of water the meter was counting. It was a large garden of 5000 m2 and a irrigation system installed was controlled from 12 German made water computers with always the same setting. So it was actually not possible to use extra 2000 tons of water in a short period of time. I was arguing that with a pipe of only 16 mm one cannot use that much water. In the end the village agreed that I can pay later if I can proof that their meter is faulty. I installed on my costs an extra meter just next to the village one and then surprise surprise I was back to the reading of the last years. Village canceled the high bill and put a new village meter...
Another episode i had recently after there was a broken pipe outside the property repaired from the village plumber and when water came back with so much mug it blocked the valve of the water computer which was not closing anymore and water was running more than one week. This was expensive as the tariff is changing with your consumption to very high.
Max

[surreyboy]

An instant check on whether or not you have a water leak after your meter is to make sure all your taps are turned off and then take a look at the meter. If the little dial with black segments on it is rotating, you most likely have a leak somewhere. If it's not rotating, then probably the system is ok. But always check long term usage via the number of cubic metres used for a more accurate assessment.

[surreyboy]

Thanks, HIC, I forgot to mention those very valid points!!

[Jim B]

There is an emergency fund that allows your village council to help with the payment. I was charged the cost price for the water plus the emergency fund paid half of the cost. The insurance paid €400 which was the maximum allowed under the policy. It was an expensive lesson so now we check the meter regularly.
Jim