Monitoring SERVICES
What is ET irrigation?
Evapotranspiration, often abbreviated as ET, refers to the combined processes of evaporation from the soil surface and transpiration from plants. It represents the overall water loss from an ecosystem. The rate of evapotranspiration is influenced by a multitude of factors, encompassing plant species, prevailing weather conditions, and the quantity and quality of water accessible to the plants.
Among the various factors, weather plays a pivotal role in determining the magnitude of evapotranspiration. Weather conditions are inherently dynamic and fluctuate regularly, with wind, sunlight (solar radiation), air temperature, humidity, and rainfall collectively exerting significant influence on the evapotranspiration rate.
What is Flow Watch?
Flow watch is the control system watching all projected flow for a set variance from the database. If the flow is off by a certain percentage (this is set in the program by the operator) then the system looks for the cause of the excess flow. When it locates the problem it will turn that zone off for the night and continue with the other irrigation. This can be caused by one or more of the following: a stuck valve, broken sprinkler, broken lateral line, or zone operated by hand, not from the controller. The database is collected by turning on each zone to observe the flow per zone. Each zone is checked to make sure there are no breaks, clogged nozzles, and the zone is operating correctly to obtain an accurate flow.
What is Flow Management?
Flow management entails the system's capability to regulate the output gallons per minute (gpm) of water used by irrigation zone in a specific area simultaneously. The factors influencing this regulation include the pipe size, pump capacity, and controller capacity. By maintaining control over the flow to a set gallonage, flow management serves to alleviate stress on both the mainline and pump station. This controlled approach minimizes the occurrence of water hammering, a phenomenon resulting from abrupt starts and stops of the pump station.
Achieving a uniform flow throughout the site, Flow Management gradually diminishes the flow towards the conclusion of the irrigation cycle. This systematic adjustment allows the system to irrigate multiple zones concurrently, enabling the completion of the entire irrigation cycle within a shortened watering timeframe. Consequently, Flow Management not only promotes system stability but also optimizes efficiency in water distribution.
Why do we need to irrigate from a Central Control System?
As water management districts in Florida intensify their efforts to enforce stringent water restrictions, those equipped with Computerized Control Systems are better positioned to effectively manage their irrigation systems and ensure an ample water supply for landscaping needs. The imposition of water usage limits on golf courses and communities by water management districts not only affects these entities but also places additional strain on reuse water systems. The efficiency of large-scale irrigation systems is notably enhanced by Central Computerized Irrigation Control Systems like the Rain Bird Maxicom/IQ4 systems, particularly in communities utilizing such technology.
The significance of these systems, applicable to both large and small sites, cannot be overstated. They play a crucial role in adapting irrigation schedules on a daily basis, responding to weather conditions and other requirements. A key feature is the rain shut-down function, which halts irrigation for two hours if there is a small amount of rain and monitors for further precipitation. If the rainfall is insufficient for the daily landscape needs after the pause, irrigation resumes. Conversely, if the recorded rainfall surpasses the landscape requirements, the system automatically shuts down irrigation. The Central Control System is also adept at discerning variations in rainfall across different areas of a site, selectively shutting down irrigation only in the region where rain is detected.
Water Restrictions
Water restrictions are becoming a permanent fixture, marking the end of unregulated sites. Water districts are taking decisive actions, shutting down operations and imposing fines on those who misuse water. As of January 15th 2008, statewide restrictions limiting irrigation to just one day a week have been enacted. Water Management Districts are providing exemptions to property owners who utilize Central Computerized Irrigation Control Systems for monitoring and managing their irrigation systems. Currently, reclaimed water faces minimal restrictions.
Collectively, we must prioritize water conservation. Homeowners with automatic controllers stand out as the primary consumers of irrigation water in the state. This is largely attributed to the common practice of setting controllers to run for 30 to 45 minutes per zone upon moving in, with little regard for weather conditions. Regardless of rain or shine, these systems continue to irrigate, underscoring the urgency for a more mindful and efficient approach to water usage.
How does this Save Water and Money?
Enhanced water management leads to significant water conservation. This involves refraining from irrigation when rainfall occurs and irrigating only to replenish the daily water loss due to evapotranspiration (E.T.). Employing a system that cycles and soaks the plant material reduces runoff during extended run times. Additionally, this approach reduces the requirement for excessive fertilizer, minimizing the potential for nutrient leaching resulting from overwatering.
Adopting these water-efficient practices not only conserves water but also diminishes the overall wear and tear on the entire irrigation system, including the mainline and pump station. In the event of a mainline break, the system is designed to shut down within 2 to 3 minutes, mitigating potential damage to roads and sidewalks. This comprehensive approach to water management not only promotes sustainability but also safeguards infrastructure and optimizes resource utilization.
Healthier Plant Material
To cultivate robust and healthier plant material, inducing a degree of stress is essential to prompt the plants to actively seek water. If plants are consistently saturated with water every day, they tend to weaken, and when faced with the initial signs of drought, they become more susceptible to stress. Surprisingly, overwatering poses a greater threat to plants than underwatering.
The analogy extends to the human body: if you are continuously provided with food without any effort on your part, you may not maintain optimal health compared to a scenario where you need to engage in physical activity, such as walking, to procure your daily sustenance. Just as the human body benefits from moderate challenges and exercise, plants thrive when subjected to controlled stress, promoting their resilience and overall well-being.
Why Monitor for Mainline Breaks/Leaks?
The occurrence of mainline breaks or leaks in the irrigation system poses various issues. Not only does it result in the loss of irrigation water, but it also accelerates wear and tear on motor-pump units due to frequent starts and stops. Additionally, a leak may escalate into a more severe scenario, such as a main or branch line pipe break. Various factors contribute to these leaks, leading to a loss of pressure in the piping system and the pumps repeatedly restarting to maintain pressurization. Examples of failure causes include backflow to the wet-well, incomplete closure of filter cleaning mechanism flushing discharge valves, dislodged/cracked slip joint seals in main/branch line piping, poorly constructed glue joints, leakage in zone valve bonnet-to-body seals, cracks in zone valve bodies, incomplete closure of zone valve pass-thru, and more.
Identifying piping system leaks can be a complex task, primarily relying on the visually spotting technique. This method heavily depends on observing bubbling or saturated areas, accelerated turf growth, small streamflow, traces of washouts or debris on roadways, and saturation around zone valve boxes. Even with a leakage rate of 25 gallons per minute (equivalent to 36,000 gallons per day), visual spotting faces significant challenges, especially if the soil percolation rate exceeds the inflow rate. Another technique discussed involves isolating and observing flow-rate changes. While this method aids in narrowing down the area for visual spotting, it still requires saturated soil conditions producing bubbling or sogginess to accurately pinpoint the leakage area.