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Calibrating and Operating an Irrigation System Calibrating an irrigation system is often much easier and far more important than you may think. By calibrating an irrigation system, you may determine the quantity of and how evenly water is being applied throughout the landscape. You may operate the irrigation system more effectively and efficiently through the information available in this webpage and will thus save water and money. In times of great water shortages such as those experienced in Florida, we should all use reclaimed water instead of potable water. You will find that its use is much more cost efficient and environmentally friendly than using drinking (potable) water. Other benefits include: improved plant health and reduced need to apply chemicals. For more information or to become a user of reclaimed water, please contact the Public Works Department at (727) 363-9243. You can calibrate a permanent in-ground irrigation system or a portable sprinkler by simply using a ruler, calculator, several cups or glasses and a watch. Six Easy Steps to Calibrating an Irrigation System
If you use a portable sprinkler, place the containers in a straight line from the sprinkler to the edge of the wetting pattern. Space containers evenly.
After calculating the hourly amount of water released, you can determine the necessary operating time for each zone or sprinkler. To calculate water time use the following equation: Minutes required to run each zone = [Water the plants need (in inches/week) multiplied by 60] divided by the Calibrated irrigation rate (in inches per hour)] Example: If the plants within one zone require 1.5 inches of water per week that irrigation zone applies 1 inch per hour, you need to operate the system 90 minutes per week. No more than 1 inch of water should be applied in one application because the water and nutrients will move down through sandy soils past the plants’ root zones. No less than ½ inch should be applied at one time or the roots will grow close to the surface and will be susceptible to droughts and freezes. Therefore, in the example, 90-minute requirements should be applied in two applications of 45 minutes each. Once you know how many minutes to run each zone, you need to decide what time of day to operate the system. There are three primary factors to consider (rain, wind and evaporation). During rainfall or high winds the system should be turned off. Rainfall can substitute for watering. Wind cause uneven distribution of the water by blowing it away from the plants. Finally, during the heat of the day (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) a lot of water is lost to evaporation. This is particularly true of systems, which release water in fine mists above the plants. Therefore, it is best not to operate your irrigation system between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Predawn watering will insure the best plant health. Additional Information If you have any questions regarding the reclaimed water system uses, please contact William G. Miller at (727) 363-9254. If you have any questions regarding the drinking (potable) water uses, Please contact Pinellas County Utilities (727) 464-4000. Other Interesting Links University of Florida/Pinellas Cooperative Extension – Environmental Horticulture University of Florida/Pinellas Cooperative Extension – Commercial Horticulture University of Florida/Pinellas Cooperative Extension – Pinellas County Master Gardener Program University of Florida/Pinellas Cooperative Extension – Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Program University of Florida – Cooperative Extension Service – Irrigation of Lawns and Gardens
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