NDS, a manufacturer of drainage and stormwater management, landscape irrigation and flow management products and solutions, released a list of environmental and financial benefits of drip irrigation to celebrate the upcoming Smart Irrigation Month in July.

“By utilizing drip irrigation methods in their gardens, flower beds and landscapes, home gardeners can deliver the exact amount of water needed at the right time, which conserves water and reduces overall utility costs,” said Tom Kundrat, NDS’s smart irrigation expert. “Due to a recent increase in water conservation efforts supported by state regulations, many homeowners are implementing drip irrigation methods. In fact, many water management districts are now granting exemptions to drip irrigation systems due to their high level of efficiency and automation.”

According to Kundrat, some of the key benefits of drip irrigation include:

1. Healthier plants: Plants, shrubs and turf grass thrive with a slow, steady application of water and nutrients directly to the plant’s roots. Ideally moisturized soil minimizes plant stress, which slows the growth of the plant. Drip irrigation also reduces fungal diseases by keeping the foliage and the soil surface dry.
2. Water savings: Overall drip irrigation can reduce water use to 50 percent over conventional sprinkler irrigation systems, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Because of the scattered spray from winds and evaporation, sprinklers tend to waste water rather than efficiently directing the spray. Drip irrigation solves that problem by overlapping the wetting pattern beneath the group to maintain an ideal balance between the water and air.
3. Automation: Drip systems can easily be automated by integrating the irrigation system into conventional electric values and timers. These tools have been proven to help reduce the waste of water and lower overall utility costs.
4. Reduced labor and maintenance: Dripline maintenance is minimal and requires limited flushing and system evaluation. Compared to sprinklers, dripline installations have lower material costs, which means additional savings for the consumer.
5. Easy installation: Dripline irrigation can be easily installed in tight, obtuse-shaped areas that are hard for stand sprinklers and water systems to operate. Dripline irrigation systems are more effective because they are very flexible and can adapt to any plant shape. Most drainage systems can be installed in just one weekend.

“It’s important to remember the important role of drainage in smart irrigation, because they go together hand in hand,” said Kundrat. “A drip irrigation system with a good drainage plan prevents harmful waterlogging and salinization where excessive salts accumulate in the soil, and is particularly important for minimizing soil loss and erosion. In traditional overhead sprinkler irrigation, the issue is even more acute, where imprecise and excessive irrigation watering without effective drainage contributes to stormwater runoff and water pollution.”

Photo: NDS

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