Don’t Err, Irr(igate)
Irrigation systems dot the American landscape just as ubiquitously as the lush, green lawns they maintain. Much like the lawns they water, however, the systems produce a lot of waste.
Irrigation systems typically use fresh, potable water from city pipes instead of grey water or water from a rain barrel. But it’s a poor use of a diminishing resource. And, irrigation systems tend to rely on inefficient sprinkler systems.
What to do? Why not let it drip?
Drip irrigation blends in nicely with your landscaping, uses less water than traditional sprinkler systems, and costs a whole lot less. Updating or installing a drip irrigation system may seem like a daunting task. But, it’s typically not that difficult. Likely your kids can even help out.
Before considering a system’s design, think carefully about the actual plants in your yard. Give up the idea of an English manor house-inspired lawn in Southern California. Think smart and you can have a lot more inventive space along with less expensive irrigation infrastructure to maintain.
Use a soil moisture sensor system to determine your water needs, which will be different for your various plants. If putting in new landscaping, group plants by their corresponding water needs so you can plan for irrigation.
Plan to use gravity flow to pull the water through a drip system if your yard is flat or sloped. If plants are upward from your water source, you’ll need a pump to push water through.
And, if forsaking a green yard is too radical a change for you, and drip irrigation too much to think about, at least consider switching from spray irrigation to a rotor system if you have a relatively large area to water. They deliver water more efficiently and you’ll see savings.
Remember to always water in the morning. This little habit maximizes absorption of water and can save a bundle. Watering in the evening or night might seem like an even better idea, but it can result in plants remaining too moist for too long and cause issues in the long run.
Irrigation technology has a fascinating 5,000 year history. As such, there exists a wide range of systems for home gardens and yards tailored to virtually any need, including extreme climates. Innovations range from deep pipe irrigation to buried pot, wick, waffle and more.
In ancient Sri Lanka, irrigation systems were built complete with underground canals and artificial reservoirs. Many exist undamaged today.
It’s hopeful to read about all the irrigation systems that have been built over time. If such complex designs were mounted thousands of years ago, re-engineering our own irrigation systems today is definitely within our grasp.
For more information: Family Handyman has written a thorough guide on creating your own irrigation system, including some of the tips above and a lot more.
Learn more on ways to save water and money with LADWP.
Learn more about the assumptions behind Magenta House water and power savings calculations.
DETAILS
Upgrade: Drip irrigation system
Goal: Create a simple drip irrigation system for your landscape.
Potential Savings*: Too much variability for average.
Skill level: ★★☆
Bonus: Why not replace your whole lawn with a more eco-friendly option? See here for a rebate.
SAVINGS*
For a drip irrigation system, there exists too much variability to calculate any form of average savings. Everyone’s landscaping is simply too different!
Regarding installation, however, we can say that on average a drip irrigation system will cost somewhere between $2.50-$4.50 per square foot to install DIY.
