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Getting Smart About Water
Ask 100 people in golf the top long-term issue facing the industry and the No. 1 answer will be: Water - the cost of it, the competition for it, the hard scrutiny endured by those who use the most of it. Deep down, we all know it's time to get smart about water.
Watch videos covering the 4 T's of Water Conservation below.
Tuning - Are sprinklers tuned for uniformity?
Maintain Sprinklers to operate at peak performance by:
- Sprinkler Maintenance: Check nozzles, pressure and possible leaks
- Sprinkler Height: Check for proper alignment and that they are flush to grade
- Pump Station Health: Preventative service scheduled annually
- Database Settings: Ensure data in the Central Control matches equipment in the field, such as flow and precipitation rate
- Irrigation Audit: Measure sprinkler uniformity
Timing - When and how much do you irrigate?
Schedule irrigation for the right time and in the right amounts to maximize efficiency:
- Adjust Watering Times: Use ET calculations to determine run times
- Dark Hours: Irrigate during nighttime hours to prevent losses
- Sensors: Use sensors to monitor wind, soil moisture, temperatures, evaporation loss and precipitation
Transporting - How do you move water around the course?
From the pump house to the sprinklers, there are miles of opportunity to lose efficiency:
- Scheduled Irrigation: Managing demand on the pump station is key to efficiency throughout irrigation events
- Flow Meters: Monitoring assures proper flow and detects breaks in real time, helping you prevent unnecessary water loss
- Maintenance Checks: From pump house checklists to grounding checks on the course, routine preventative maintenance ensures peak performance
- Alternative Sources: Capture rain water and use it on beds and other low water requirement areas
- Pumping Cycle: Check your system to see if your pump cycles often when the system is off and if it can hold set pressure for a long period of time
Technology - Is your technology up to the task?
From soil sensors to weather stations to software, technology is efficiency’s most important ally:
- Accurate Soil Moisture levels: Use moisture sensors and irrigate to a target VWC per area
- Rain Monitoring System: Use an intelligent system or an accurate rain can
- Smart Pump™/Smart Sensors™: Automatically detect and respond to leaks and overflow situations that waste water
- Weather Station: Maintain to avoid false readings that can cause under- and overwatering
See How Courses in Florida are Saving Water
One broken sprinkler head can waste 25,000 gallons of water every six months.
Over the past 40 years the world’s water useage has quadrupled.
From 2005 to 2013 the cost to water golf courses increased more than 30%.
One broken sprinkler head can waste 25,000 gallons of water every six months.
Over the past 40 years the world’s water useage has quadrupled.
From 2005 to 2013 the cost to water golf courses increased more than 30%.
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