IRRIGATION FOR CONSERVATION

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "IRRIGATION FOR CONSERVATION"

Clarence Nelson
5 years ago
Views:

1 IRRIGATION FOR CONSERVATION Drip Irrigation and Conversion Healthy Gardens: A Balanced Approach Presented By: Jerilynn Jenderseck April 2016

2 WHAT BRINGS YOU HERE?

3 AGENDA Parts of a drip irrigation system Manifold Assembly Conversion of spray irrigation to drip Drip lines Emitters Fittings / Tools Supply List Maintenance Examples of successful conversions

4 IS CONSERVATION NECESSARY?

5 DROUGHT!

6 MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATE

7 CONCEPTS

HYDROZONING Group your plantings by their water & microclimate needs Trees should be on their own station/valve Lawns should be on their own station/valve Very low and low water need plants can be

8 HYDROZONING Group your plantings by their water & microclimate needs Trees should be on their own station/valve Lawns should be on their own station/valve Very low and low water need plants can be grouped together Medium plants and high water plants can also be grouped Vegetables, fruits and annuals can be grouped together; they can also be grouped with high water use plants Containers should be on a separate station/valve

9 HYDROZONING

10 SOIL Texture & Composition

11 CAPILLARY ACTION

12 THINK OF IRRIGATION SYSTEMS AS

13 THE FIRST THING WE DO IS

14 THE FIRST THING WE DO IS

15 AND WE BUILD

16 VALVE CONTROLLERS

17 WEATHER SENSORS

18 HOSE BIB TIMERS

19 Y for hose connection on the other side Timer Backflow device Combination filter & pressure regulator Swivel adapter to dripline

20 KNOW YOUR IRRIGATION SYSTEM

21 VALVES

22 KNOW YOUR IRRIGATION SYSTEM

23 FILTERS

24 PRESSURE REGULATORS

25 PRESSURE REGULATING FILTERS

26 VALVE / MANIFOLD ASSEMBLY

27 CONVERSION OPTIONS

28 VALVE ASSEMBLY

29 VALVE ASSEMBLY IN GROUND

30 IDENTIFY HEADS TO CONVERT Flag the others to be capped off then turn off your water before converting

31 CONVERSION KITS

32 CONVERTING SPRAY TO DRIP

33 CAP OFF UNUSED POPUPS Tape all male threads

34 CONVERTING SPRAY TO DRIP

35 CONVERSION WITHOUT KIT Optional Pressure Regulator at this point Optional

36 CONVERSION FROM PVC PIPE

37 PUT TOGETHER.

38 Voila

39 DRIP LINES ¼ Inline Drip Tubing 5/8 Inline Drip Tubing University of ½ California Tubing Cooperative Extension 3/4 Tubing

40 IN-LINE EMITTERS

41 DRIPLINE LAYOUTS Point Source Emitters Inline Emitters

42 CUTTING DRIPLINE

43 EMITTERS

44 EMITTERS

45 HOW MANY PC EMITTERS? Assuming ½ tubing: ½ gph 1 gph 2 gph Can run the line feet, but should still stick to the above number of emitters per valve.

46 EMITTER FLOW

47 ¼ BARBED FITTINGS Couplers Ells Goof Plugs Tees Coupling Valve

48 SLIP (EASY) LOCK FITTINGS Hose connector to drip Flow control valve Coupler Elbow (Ell) Tee End Cap OR Air filtration with cap

49 ATTACHING EMITTERS Emitter to ¼ Tubing ¼ Tubing to Emitter Emitter in PE Tubing PE Tubing

50 GOOF PLUGS ARE YOUR FRIENDS!

51 ANOTHER OPTION

52 COMPRESSION FITTINGS Ells Tees Straight Connector End Closure Nut Connector

prevent a vacuum from occurring after the remote control valve has

53 AIR / VACUUM RELIEF VALVE Purpose of an air/vacuum relief valve: To evacuate air from the dripline laterals during system start-up To prevent a vacuum from occurring after the remote control valve has closed. This prevents dirt and debris from being siphoned back into the emitters

54 TOOLS PVC Cutters Scissors

55 HOLE PUNCHES

56 TIPS FOR MAINTAINING YOUR INVESTMENT Annual system check: Flush irrigation system Check for leaks and repair as needed Examine irrigation controller / valves

57 FLUSH IRRIGATION SYSTEM Recommended every 6 months Turn system off Pull buried drip lines up to surface Remove end caps/figure 8 s from drip lines Turn system on until a clear stream of water flows from the end Turn system off Reassemble system including the end cap Check nozzles and rinse/flush screens/filters Turn system on and check for proper operation

58 INSPECT IRRIGATION EQUIPMENT Recommend intermittently Moving valve by valve. Identify and replace or clear clogged nozzles/drip emitters Ensure there are no leaks or breaks in the lines - walk the line Replace missing emitters or emitters not working correctly If lines are kinked, replace that section If trees have grown, move drip lines out toward the canopy edge If plants are larger, ensure the emitter is not right on the Sonoma trunk County Master Gardener Volunteers

59 EXAMINE IRRIGATION CONTROLLER Recommend annually From your controller, turn the valves on one at a time and check to see that each valve activates and runs for a set time Review irrigation schedule to ensure it is appropriate for each zone Replace the battery so as to not lose the programming Double check your programming date, time, start times of each program (eliminate cross programming) If weather or rain sensor is installed, wipe clean and check vents on rain sensor

60 CHECK FOR LEAKS Underground irrigation leaks: Look for excessively wet areas, unusual mounding, water flowing/seeping from edges, mulch blown away in a line May need a professional to locate a leak prior to digging and repairing

61 CONVERSION TIPS IF NOT USING CONVERSION HEADS OR BODIES WITH FILTERS & PRESSURE REGULATORS BUILT IN: Install filters and pressure regulators at each valve being utilized for drip IF USING EXISTING SPRAY BODIES: Make sure you know the manufacture of the spray bodies you are currently using. It may be wise to dig one out and take it with you to the irrigation store Count how many spray body inserts or risers, ells or tees and slip lock connectors you need (one per valve being converted) Count how many nipples/risers you want to cap off Remember, you may need to raise the height of the converted spray body to accommodate the compost and mulch being added; if so, purchase enough ½ risers for conversion, measuring or estimating the height you will need once the soil and mulch are added Replace the inner parts of the spray body with the new conversion insert and cap the remaining spray heads

CONVERSION TIPS IF USING CONVERSION KITS: Count how many conversion kits you will need, one per valve being converted Ensure you have all the necessary parts for the conversion (body, ells, tees,

the compost and mulch being added; if so, purchase enough ½ risers for conversion measure or estimate the height you will need Dig out each of the heads down to the PVC pipe Keep area as clean as

62 CONVERSION TIPS IF USING CONVERSION KITS: Count how many conversion kits you will need, one per valve being converted Ensure you have all the necessary parts for the conversion (body, ells, tees, couplers and/or adapters for the line) Count the remaining spray heads you will need ½ threaded caps to seal them off Remember, you may need to raise the height of the conversion body to accommodate the compost and mulch being added; if so, purchase enough ½ risers for conversion measure or estimate the height you will need Dig out each of the heads down to the PVC pipe Keep area as clean as possible Replace existing spray body and riser/nipple with new assembly (remember to wrap all male threads with Teflon tape) Cap off the remaining risers/nipples on the same valve Remove the filter from the newly installed conversion kit Turn valve on and run until water flows clear With valve on, ensure you have no leaks at the capped off risers/nipples Put conversion body back together Fill in holes, attach drip line and emitters

Supplies Needed for Irrigation Conversion from Spray to Drip (from an irrigation specialty store) Cutting Tools: PVC special cutter or hacksaw; Drip (PE) Tubing pruners, scissors or special cutter

63 Supplies Needed for Irrigation Conversion from Spray to Drip (from an irrigation specialty store) Cutting Tools: PVC special cutter or hacksaw; Drip (PE) Tubing pruners, scissors or special cutter Schedule 40 PVC (typical ¾ ) to fix breaks in line & PVC Glue Schedule 80 PVC (¾ 1 ) if completely revamping or installing new assembly manifold Anti-Siphon Valve ¾ typical for residential use No conversion kit - Filter and Pressure Regulator (can be combined), recommend psi Conversion kit(s) make sure parts are included to attach drip tubing (if using the same spray body, know which brand is installed) ½ risers to raise the height of the assembly for drip tubing to grade (3, 4, 6, 8 ) PE Tubing ¼, ½ and ¾ depending on site application (consider both blank and inline emitters-pressure compensating) Emitters pressure compensating determine appropriate gpm (.5, 1, 2) ¼ Barbed Fittings such as connectors, ells, tees, flow control valves Power/Easy lock or compression fittings for ½ or ¾ tubing such as connectors, ells, tees, ends, air/vacuum relief valves, flow control valves Goof plugs, flags Hole punch preferably with straighter sides to make a smaller hole Steel U hooks for staking down all lines 2 different sizes if using ¼ and larger tubing ½ PVC caps to close off unused risers/nipples Mulch to lay over your dripline Teflon Tape for wrapping male pipe threads, duct tape to cover risers if you step away, paper towels Optional: wrench, pliers, gloves

64 OPTIONS

65 OPTIONS

66 OPTIONS

67 MUCH MORE INTEREST

68 A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT

69 RETAINED SOIL/MULCH

70 NICE TRANSITION

71 WHERE TO FIND SUPPLIES Central Valley Builders Supply 160 Grant Avenue, Healdsburg (707) Harmony Farm Supply 3244 Gravenstein Hwy North, Sebastopol (707) Horizon Turf & Irrigation 344 Sutton Place, Santa Rosa (707) John Deere Landscapes 180 Sebastopol Rd., Santa Rosa (707) Watersavers Irrigation 840 Perry Lane, Petaluma (707) Wyatt Irrigation Supply 747 Yolanda Dr., Santa Rosa (707) Lakeville, Petaluma (707)

72 And..

73 Got Questions?

74 Converting Spray to Drip

Drip Irrigation Kit Installation Manual

Drip Irrigation Kit Installation Manual Gravity Feed Drip Irrigation Kit for Vegetable Garden Models: Starter Kit: (DK-GFVG) Starter Kit CONTENTS Description... 2 About Gravity Feed Drip Systems... 2 Gravity