SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPE
The sustainable Landscape theme is being presented and accepted by communities nationally. Where does landscape irrigation change in sustainable landscape?
The nuts and bolts of installation changes very little other than the focus to the client of irrigation water conservation which includes Irrigation Management and any irrigation components that can save water.
The use of storm water resource will be amplified with the use of underground cistern and surface water holding
reservoirs.
SMART IRRIGATION CONTROLLERS
What is Smart Irrigation Controllers?
These are controllers that interface directly from weather based on moisture sensors that control the timing of the controller to each zone by weather on moisture sensors.
Evaporation (ET) is the basis of weather calculation based activation of irrigation controllers is an excellent basis in arid climate, however humid climate I would recommend soil sensoring in addition to weather sensoring to activate the Smart Irrigation Controllers.

02810 - Irrigation System

02811 Drip Irrigation

PART 1 - GENERAL 

1.01 SUMMARY This drip system is very efficient, easy to install, nearly vandal proof, very efficient to operate, and not subject to wind drift, or evaporation.  The inline drip emitters are pressure compensating, and clog resistant.  The drip line may be trenched into the top 2 inches of soil where there is no landscape fabric.  When landscape fabric is used, the supply lines are in the ground, but the drip line is placed on top of the landscape fabric, secured with pins, and covered with mulch.  The drip lines should be placed in evenly spaced rows in areas of ground cover, or mass plantings.  The supply line is the same size as the drip hose, and used the same fittings. This allows easy transition between the two for crossing non planted areas, and under paved areas.

Design and Installation

Quick, easy installation in shrub and groundcover beds with minimal trenching and uniform flow rate to individual plants down entire drip line due to factory-spaced built-in emitters. Drip irrigation is not affected by winds. Steep slopes can also be precisely irrigated Retrofit without trenching. Drip lines installed below a mulch layer eliminates the need for for trenching and cannot damage existing plant roots. Irregular and narrow landscape areas, e.g. parking lot islands and median strips, are easily irrigated while protecting adjacent buildings, cars and sidewalks. Reduced runoff due to low flow rates saves water and allows efficient soil percolation. Vandalism is reduced because drip lines laid under a decorative mulch are not readily seen.  Irrigate anytime, even during daylight hours. Drip lines won't interfere with pedestrian or automotive traffic Existing installations are easily modified or expanded for new landscape designs or additional plantings. Improved Plant Growth  Faster growth due to improved soil/water/oxygen balance Longer lasting blooms and reduced plant disease because only soil and roots (not foliage) is irrigated Less weeds in plant beds due to minimal wetting of soil surface. Savings 30% to 50% less water is used due to precise feeding of each plant.  Low energy costs because drip irrigation is administered through low pressure systems

System Layout Drip irrigated areas should be placed on different zones than sprinkler irrigated areas. Drippers apply water slowly, unlike sprinklers Separate high sun exposure areas from low sun exposure areas, plants with substantially different water requirements and raised beds and containers into their own zones

Slopes can be managed easily by concentrating the density of driplines at the top and gradually inceasing the spacing between them going down the slope. Steeper slopes may not require dripline at the bottom. Place dripline on the uphill side of the plants and following the contours,

PART 2- PRODUCTS

 2.01 MATERIALS

1. Clock - Rainbird 4 station time clock
2. Separation valve - 1" PVC Ball valve
3. Anti siphon - 1" Double check valve (Your plumber will know the specifics of your local codes.)
4. Solenoid Valve, pressure regulator, and filter XCZ-100-BFF with DV Valve
   • Operating Range Flow: 2 to 15 GPM (0,45 to 3,41 m³/h; 0,13 to 0,95 l/s).Pressure: 30 to 120 psi (1,4 to 8,3 Bar)
   • Specifications 1" (26/34) FNPT inlet and outlet Regulator preset @ 40 psi (2,8 Bar) 24 VAC 50/60 cycle solenoid Power requirement: 0.30A (7.2VA) inrush current 0.19A (4.56 VA) holding current
5. Rain click - Rainbird  rainclick
6. Drip tube - Use 1/2" with 1gallon per hour emitters spaced 12" apart.  Blue Stripe dripline is an effective and economical choice for many landscape applications as it delivers precise water application directly to the root zone. Drip In® Dripline is an emitter that is enclosed and inseparably welded to the inside wall of the tubing as it is extruded in the manufacturing process. It is ideal for odd shaped or high wind areas with limited water supply or low pressure.   http://www.toroag.com/ProductFiles/pdf/lndscp_drip-in_pc.pdf
7. Supply tube -  Use Toro 5/8" Blue stripe poly tubing:  Made of polyethylene, used for main or supply line. Unlike PVC pipe, it comes in coils for easy handling and storage, and weighs about 4 pounds per 100'. Maximum working pressure for drip line is 60 psi and a maximum flow rate is 220 gph (3.6 gpm). Coils are available in lengths of 50', 100', 200', 500' and 1000'. The actual dimension of 1/2" tubing may vary from one manufacturer to another. DIG poly tubing has an inside diameter of .600" and outside diameter of .700". If you are mixing brands, please make sure that you are using the correct 1/2" reducing coupling to go from one size to another.
8. Fittings -  Use Toro 5/8" lock eze fittings. Blue Stripe Drip Hose Fittings are very easy to install and require no clamps or glue. Use them to route drip lines wherever you need to go, attach smaller tubing to larger hose, or to attach to emitters or sprays located in hard to reach areas.  Don't use compression fittings.
9. Individual Drip emitters - Rainbird XB-20 (Red) drip emitters
10. Spaghetti tube -1/4" tube
11. 1/4" Fittings -1/4" barb fittings

PART 3 EXECUTION

3.01 INSTALLATION

1. Have a licensed plumber connect to potable water source with separation valve and anti siphon.

2. install valves

3. Install rainclick in an inconspicuous location that has a clear view of the sky. Set to interrupt irrigation after 1/2" rain.

4. lay out and connect supply line tubing and secure with pins

5. lay out drip tubing and secure with pins

6. flush each line.

7. plug ends

8. test system and add individual drip emitters if required to assure the water needs of all plants.

   Irrigation Frequency The interval between irrigations depends on the average soil type. Light (sandy) soil should be watered frequently with short irrigation duration. Heavy (clay) soils can be watered less frequently with longer irrigation duration Maximum daily plant requirements should be used to establish the emitter spacing in the dripline as well as the flow rate of the emitters Irrigation time should not exceed the soil's infiltration rate

   Suggested Dripper and Dripline Spacing

   Soil Type	Annuals, Groundcover	Dripper Spacing	Large Bushes, Shrub Beds, Perennials	Dripper Spacing
   Medium Sand	Spacing 12" to 15"	12"	Spacing 15" to 18"	12"
   Loam	Spacing 15" to 18"	18"	Spacing 18" to 24"	18"
   Clay Loam	Spacing 18" to 24"	18"	Spacing 20" to 30"	18"
   Clay	Spacing reduced to 15"	18"	Spacing 24" to 36"	24"

   Drip line Watering Schedule

   Type of Plant	Daily Watering	Irrigation Frequency
   		Hot	Warm	Cool
   Flowers, Vegetables	1-3 hours	1-2 days	3 days	3-4 days
   Small trees, shrubs	2-5 hours	1-2 days	2-3 days	3-4 days
   Vines	3-6 hours	1-2 days	2-3 days	3-4 days
   Medium trees, shrubs	5-7 hours	2-3 days	2-3 days	4-5 days
   Large trees, shrubs	6-8 hours	1-2 days	2-3 days	5-6 days
   Pots to 15"	10-15 mins.	1-2 days	2-3 days	4-5 days
   Pots over 15"	15-20 mins.	1-2 days	2-3 days	4-5 days