Although most drip irrigation systems are relatively simple, they do require a few basic components to function correctly. One of those components is known as a drip irrigation system pressure regulator.
Drip/low volume irrigation systems operate at much lower pressures than sprinkler systems, and so a pressure regulator is usually required to bring the dynamic pressure down to an acceptable range, normally between 15 and 35 psi.
Pressure Regulator: Most drip systems operate at low pressure, usually less than 20 psi. Pressure regulators reduce incoming water pressure to the ideal pressure for the drip system. Water companies are required to deliver water at a minimum of 30 psi, although pressures can exceed 80 psi.
A typical drip irrigation system needs about 25 pounds per square inch (psi) of water pressure to function optimally, but many emitters rated at 25 psi will work well at pressures as low as 15 psi. The flow output will be slightly less than at 25 psi but any difference can be made up with longer watering times.
Drip irrigation systems are designed to work at an even lower pressure than is set for the house, with the optimal pressure for a drip system between 15 and 30 PSI.
Under 40 is considered low, so you may need to boost pressure if installing an irrigation system. Over 80 is high, and many household water appliances may be at risk of damage over this range. A pressure reducing valve may be necessary. Static pressure is affected by elevation.
Keep in mind that while all drip irrigation systems are designed for low pressure, most operate on 12 - 20 PSI (pounds per square inch).
What Pressure Is Needed For Drip Irrigation? Unlike sprinklers, most drip irrigation systems need water pressure between 10 to 30 psi (pounds per square inch) because the components are designed to operate under low pressure. If the water pressure is higher than 30 PSI, it can damage the system.
Multiply linear feet of drip tape by flow rate. EXAMPLE; 5,000 feet of drip tape X . 0045 flow = 22.5 GPM pump flow requirement. Drip tape requires low pressure.
Drip Irrigation users can select from a number of different types of drippers to suit different watering needs. Drippers, also referred to as emitters, are the end devices which deliver water to plants in a specific manner.
1/2" tubing can carry up to 240 GPH, and 3/4" tubing can carry up to 480 GPH. If you are using a 2 GPH emitter, on 1/2" tubing; divide 240 GPH by 2 GPH (240/2), this will give you the total number of emitters that you can use on a line. If you got 120 emitters as the answer, you are correct.
Using the table below the drip system would be run 110 minutes for each irrigation event, typically in a 24 hour period, to avoid leaching and runoff. Repeat events until the system is run for 5.8 hours in a week to apply 1 inch of water. As a general rule, vegetable crops require 1 - 1.5 acre-inches of water per week.
Do I need a water pressure regulator? Building code requires that homes that receive water with pressure greater than 80 PSI have a water pressure regulator. A home's water pressure should stay in the range of 40 to 60 PSI.
Adding a Water Pressure Regulator Protects Your Appliances
High water pressure can prematurely wear out appliances like your dishwasher, washing machine, water softener, and water heater.
Check with your gas appliance manufacturer to see what propane pressure is required for your appliance. Outdoor gas appliances such as high heat cast iron burners require the use of a high pressure regulator because they need more volumes of gas than a low pressure regulator can deliver.
For drip irrigation systems where each emitter represents one plant, the critical flow rate is the water requirements of all emitters. The critical flow rate for drip irrigation systems with eight emitters is 3 GPM (gallons per minute). The recommended flow rate for drip irrigation is higher than this and 4-5 GPM.
The most common size of main line drip tubing is also called 1/2" mainline drip tubing. Now, there are many sizes of 1/2" drip tubing and almost none of them actually measure 1/2". The most common size in drip irrigation is . 700, measuring .
For spray heads, it is 30 psi, with an operating range of 15 to 30 psi. For drip lines, this is about 20 psi, with an operating range of 15 to 30 psi. Remember, flow rate and pressure are directly related to one another.
acid injection, to reduce irrigation water ph, can prevent chemical clogging of drip emitters. generally speaking, surface water carry more biological and physical clogging agents, while ground water are usually characterized by higher mineral concentration, posing a chemical clogging hazard.
Most spray and rotator heads are designed to work their best at about 30 psi. When pressure is lower, the watering radius will be reduced, so you may need to place your heads closer together to get the coverage you need. Higher pressures – those above about 40 psi – will cause the head to mist or fog.
Soaker hoses are the simplest way to create drip irrigation. These garden hoses have tiny holes along their length to allow water to drip out. While it's an initially cost-effective option, it uses more water than a drip system in the long run.
Expensive Water Bills: If your water bills seem a lot higher than expected, you're using more water than usual. This can be a sign that your pressure is too high. Clanging Pipes: As high-pressure water moves through your plumbing, it doesn't have enough room to move evenly.
Normal psi for a home pipe system is between 30 and 80 psi. While you don't want the psi to be too low, it violates code to be above 80. Instead, you should aim for a psi that's between 60 and 70.