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Rainwater and a Landscape Irrigation System
Many people want to water their landscape with rainwater and they want to hook it up to their landscape irrigation system. This is a great idea, but a number of challenges have to be overcome. The first is that the common residential landscape irrigation system using sprinklers, operates on at least 50 pounds of pressure, uses ten to twenty gallons a minute, and usually runs for at least one hour every other day. This consumes 600 to 1,200 gallons of water every other day and requires a high-pressure pump. Obviously, you would need a very large holding tank to support very many days of watering.
Below we offer some common sense options to a large tank and high-pressure pump system.
A drip system
Install a drip irrigation system. It still requires a pump that puts out at least 25 pounds of pressure but there are many smaller less expensive options for this kind of pump than for a 50-PSI pump. A drip system is a far more efficient way to water than using spray heads. First, the water is delivered right to the roots of the plants you want to water instead of covering all of the non-planted areas between the plants. This just encourages weed growth. Second, water is not lost to evaporation the way it is with water being delivered by a spray system. Third, water is applied more slowly so it can seep into the ground without a lot of runoff.
Install a water wise landscape
Choose plants wisely. You don’t have to have all drought tolerant plants, but use plants that need more water where you will really appreciate them or around a rain garden. Lawn areas should be planted only where they will also be appreciated and they too can be watered by drip irrigation although they require more water than plantings. Cultivate good topsoil the plants will be able to develop a good root system to sustain them over dry periods.
Don’t over-water
Many people over-water and hurt their plants instead of helping them grow. If you have a timer on your rainwater landscape irrigation system and are diligent about adjusting the setting – even once a week, you’ll have a much more healthy landscape and you’ll use much less water. Regular watering with a drip system will keep the soil moist and able to accept new water like a sponge without a lot of run-off.
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