The irrigation contractor walks you through the system. Shows you the backflow preventer, maybe opens a valve box or two, maybe a pump station, controller, and then turns on and off each zone. You see the sprinklers shooting water and think it looks great. You sign off on it, and the contractor gets paid. The project is completed. You made sure your client got what they paid for, right?
- Did you check to see if the pipe was the proper size?
- Check pressure available at the distal sprinkler?
- Inspect solvent-weld joints to make sure solvent and primer was not running down the pipe?
- Did the contractor use primer and/or lube?
- Teflon tape?
- Proper schedule of fittings?
- Were the thrust blocks installed against undistrubed soil? Did they open the bag and mix the cement?
- Was the controller properly programmed for the climate in your area?
- Was the control wire and splice suitable for direct bury?
- Are the valve boxes dry?
- Are the valve boxes and sprinklers installed at grade?
- Is the drip tubing properly secured and covered?
- Are different nozzles used for different arcs?
- ETC.....
The standard nozzle for most mid-range rotors emits 3.0 gallons per minute. If a zone has one rotor set at 90 degrees and the rest set at 180 degrees the nozzle on the 90 degree rotor should be reduced to emit 1.5 gallons per minute. If nozzle is not changed, that one sprinkler uses 1.5 gallons per minute more than needed. If the zone is scheduled to operate 20 minutes daily, then the irrigation system uses at least 30 gallons more than it needs to daily. That would result in 930 gallons of wasted water for the month of July, for that one zone.
If this is the result of just one misplaced nozzle, what is the effect of the other items mentioned?
