Every minute you use your irrigation system can result in the waste of gallons of water. Worse still, if the system is not effective, your plants, trees or veggies are not getting the right amount of water in order to thrive. When you invest in an irrigation system that is suited to your land and needs, you will save water and provide your plant life with the nutrients they need.
Save Water Through Efficiency
If you want to save water, think about efficiency rather than amount of water used per gallon. For instance, watering plants with a handheld can on a hot summer’s day is not an effective way to save water. Evaporation will mean having to water those same plants much more often, resulting in water being wasted.
These five things to look for in an irrigation system will help you save water based on a number of factors, including the shape of your land.
Land Features
Referred to in the world of landscaping as “topography,” the features of your land will have a significant impact on your efforts to save water using an irrigation system. If there are areas of your land that are sloped, you will have a challenge on your hands. If it is possible to lay out the laterals along topographic lines, you should consider a drip irrigation system. This may require the adjustment of run times to account for runoff. Forget about travelers or pivot systems when working with sloped land. They simply will not work effectively.
Plant and Crops
You could end up investing a lot of money on sprinkler and drip systems to irrigate your crops. They are ideal for veggies, fruits and orchard crops, but they are overkill for other crops, such as wheat. This is the perfect example of irrigation-system use where you can save water and money by being more efficient in your approach.
Soil Type
Irrigation run times and the method you opt for should take soil type into consideration. For sandy soil types, you will need to supply water frequently and at a high rate, in order to ensure root zones retain moisture. When dealing with denser clay soil types, you don’t have to worry as much about moisture retention, which means frequent low-rate applications will save water and help combat runoff.
High Quality Water
Filtration is a given with any irrigation system, whereas overhead systems do not often use filtration. You have to consider water borne pathogens and whether a chlorine injection is needed. Always confirm that a chlorine injection is suited for use with crops you have planted. Treatment is a passive way to save water, by ensuring it is always high quality.
Weather Conditions
Using sprinklers will not save water if most of it evaporates due to your local climate. Weather conditions, such as high winds and low humidity, will result in a high degree of evaporation or water being blown off course. Drip irrigation will solve this problem in even the most arid conditions.
If you would like to learn more on how to save water with effective irrigation, call the experts at Show Plumbing today.
Plumber Houston, residential plumbing, Show Plumbing