Micro spray units using stream patterns are more wind-resistant than mist-type systems. As seen here, the applicators are placed to evenly apply water under a tree?EUR??,,????'???s drip line. Photo: Erik Skindrud

Jewish settlers in pre-World War II Palestine pioneered the technology now known as drip irrigation. Driven by the extreme scarcity of water, Polish emigrant Simcha Blass discovered that slow application of water made supplies go much farther. His technology helped settlers farm and colonize the Negev desert and other very dry areas.

After a lag of several decades, the drip and other forms of low-volume irrigation are now becoming widespread across the American Southwest. Water shortages and emerging municipal restrictions make it likely that they will be the standard of the future.

Driplines using flexible water lines are easily installed on the surface of a landscaped area and can be used to establish drought-tolerant plants and then removed. This is very similar to the first drip irrigation used at Kibbutz Hatzerim in the 1940s.

The Roots of Drip

Simcha Blass made his discovery when he noticed a hedge with one shrub noticeably healthier and taller than the others.

But it was only in the late 1950s, with the advent of modern plastics during and after World War II, that he made a major step implementing his idea. After leaving government service in 1956 he reopened his private engineering office and worked with his son Yeshayahu on the drip irrigation idea. The main idea of the new invention was to release water through larger and longer passageways (rather than tiny holes) by using friction to slow water inside a plastic emitter. Larger passageways prevented blocking tiny holes by very small particles. The first experimental system of this type was established in 1959. In the early 1960s, Blass developed and patented this method and the new dripper was the first practical surface drip irrigation emitter.

Installing Drip Systems

Landscape architects and irrigation contractors can help property owners save some green without the lawn turning brown by taking the following steps:

Water by Zone

Different plants need different amounts of water. A well-designed and properly installed automatic irrigation system will be divided into zones according to plant type. Dividing the yard into separate irrigation zones allows for the grass to be watered separately and more frequently than groundcovers, shrubs and trees. Instead of setting the entire system to go on for ?EUR??,,????'??x?EUR??,,????'?? number of minutes per zone, consider the type of plant in each zone and increase or decrease the watering time depending on how much water the plants actually need.

Waste Not, Want Not

The greatest waste of water comes from applying too much, too often ?EUR??,,????'??? much of the water runs off and is never absorbed. Instead of watering for one long, continuous session, try splitting the watering time into shorter periods and take 15-minute breaks in between each session. This will let the water soak in while minimizing runoff.

Bubblers are an efficient way to apply water where deep percolation for tree roots is the desired result. This application method is often used with drainage tubes that help the water penetrate clay-bearing soils. Photo: Erik Skindrud

Watch the Clock

Water between 5 and 10 a.m. These are times when the sun is low, winds are usually calm and temperatures are cooler. Midday watering tends to be less efficient because of water loss due to evaporation and windy conditions during the day. Watering in the evening isn?EUR??,,????'???t a good idea either because leaves can remain wet overnight ?EUR??,,????'??? an open invitation for fungus to grow. By watering in the morning, you give the leaves a chance to dry out during the day.

Use Drip Technology

When it comes to watering individual trees, flowerbeds, potted containers or other non-grassy areas, you can apply water directly to the roots with low volume drip irrigation. This will reduce water waste through evaporation or runoff and keep weeds from growing.

Simcha Blass teamed with son Yeshayahu to perfect the world?EUR??,,????'???s first modern drip irrigation system at Kibbutz Hatzerim in Israel?EUR??,,????'???s Negev Desert. Their key innovation was a technique to prevent clogging by very small particles. It would take almost 50 years for the technology to be embraced in the western U.S. Photo courtesy of netafim

Inspect and Adjust

Periodically check your sprinklers to make sure everything is working properly. A clogged head or a torn line can wreak havoc on your landscape and water bill. Make sure the heads are adjusted properly to avoid watering sidewalks and driveways. A properly adjusted sprinkler head should spray large droplets of water, not a fine mist, to minimize evaporation and wind drift.

Sources: Wikipedia, ?EUR??,,????'??Drip Irrigation,?EUR??,,????'?? Dave Johnson and Dave Palumbo, Rain
Bird Corporation, www.netafim.com

Irrigation Insights

1960s: Decade when low volume irrigation systems were first introduced. At that time, they were called trickle, drip or daily flow irrigation.

200 to 600: Feet, the maximum row length of line-source systems, depending on orifice spacing and design pressure. Source: North Carolina State University Extension Service