Lawn Drip Irrigation: Why Bother?
Of all of the different types of ways to delivery water to your lawn or yard, lawn drip irrigation systems are considered the most efficient. Water sprinklers (although easier to find) are only about 75% efficient, while lawn drip irrigation systems have been rated as high as 90% efficient. Be efficient, I mean that the water goes where it's supposed to and doesn't evaporate in the air or roll away down the drain.
What About The Area You Live In?
Lawn drip irrigation is best for drier, more desert-like areas with sandy soil that doesn't hold water very well. If you live in a very tropical region or even far North where you get a lot of precipitation and have moist soil, then your yard or property would need a more intensive amount of water than a lawn drip irrigation system.
Sometimes known as lawn trickle irrigation, the slow but steady delivery of water is best for sandy soil. A sprinkler or spray irrigation system is usually too much for it to handle, unless you can somehow time your system into delivering water in very short bursts. Otherwise, the water will just be wasted, which looses you money and vital fresh water. And it won't do your lawn much good, either.
How Does It Work?
A lawn drip irrigation system looks like tubes or pipes lain on the ground with a bunch of safety valves hooked up to a water valve. It's a little more complicated than that, but not too much. You can set it up yourself or hire someone to do it. The water is delivered in a steady drip directly onto the ground, not giving it a chance to either evaporate or run off.
Some Troubleshooting Tips
Although you can get rubber tubing instead of piping to save on initial costs, any rodents that happen along your lawn drip irrigation system will love to chew it up. You might also want to stake your pipes to the ground to keep them from rolling away. You can save some money by buying a water valve which has a backflow prevention device already installed.
Since your lawn drip irrigation is being hooked up to public water supply, it must conform to zoning laws or any land development codes in your area. Be sure to check about these laws before you invest in a system. You should also check if you need annual inspections and what days you will be allowed to water your property.
