July 2009 Archives

July is Smart Irrigation Month and the purpose for its designation is to promote:

• Efficient watering practices

• Technology advanced irrigation equipment

• Water conservation

Increasing demand for fresh water has put tremendous pressure on our resources. There is a finite amount of clean fresh water available and our infrastructure for moving water is limited in its capacity to deliver. Conservation is vital to preserving our natural resources and with landscaping being the major user of clean fresh water I am recommending that every irrigation owner take the small amount of time required to review their irrigation system.

In my thirty years as an irrigation contractor I have heard many misconceptions about irrigation systems, and how they operate. I have always wondered how these ideas have come to be the mainstream thinking. I'll probably never know how they originated but hopefully I can dispel these tales.

Many of my clients discuss with me about the high cost of maintaining their landscapes. This includes designing, installing, and maintenance. I always ask what their objective was and did the work meet with their expectation. If they used a reputable landscape company then typically the answer is 'yes' however they still converse about the cost to maintain their home and property and that is one area that may not have been planned for or planned well. If you are designing a project and you want to keep your maintenance cost to a minimum then consider the following:

Lightning causes millions of dollars of damage to irrigation systems every year. The best solution to preventing damage is to have all electronic components and wiring properly grounded. This is typically overlooked on most irrigation designs because it is a rare event for most owners. Unfortunately, when is does happen the damage can be costly and time consuming.