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As a generalization an automated Lawn sprinkler system in Texas, be it residential or commercial, is created by connecting your home water supply line (or a special meter intended for irrigation purposes only) to a water broadcast device known as a sprinkler, drip irrigation, etc. Sure, some systems are fed by ponds, recycled water sources or other gray water type systems and these are similar but different systems in that they do not require a connection to a government owned & regulated utility and therefore most often do not require the backflow prevention device mandated by the local authority.
Upon connection of your intended sprinkler supply line to your domicile water supply line at a location between the water meter and where it enters the building a potential problem arises in that your desire to water your landscape could bring about a potential issue if the water supplying your sprinkler system chose to reverse(back pressure or back siphonage) and contaminate the water source. This being said the TCEQ and your local authority tasked with preventing potential disasters of this type make rules/ordinances regulating Landscape Irrigation Systems. The first two are that there must be an Isolation valve between your supply line to the domicile and a backflow prevention device. These two items serve to allow you to cut off the supply of water to your irrigation system without interrupting your home service (Isolation Valve) and prevent the backflow of water that has entered the sprinkler from re-entering the public water supply ( Backflow Prevention Device). The isolation valve is usually a simple gate or ball valve which serves only to cut water to your sprinkler system for service or seasonally.
So, now, basically you have tapped into your home supply line and set an isolation valve and a double check valve/ BackflowPrevention Device (BPD) . So you can turn your home water back on at the meter and; What comes next? Well, The resulting pipe that exits the backflow prevention device now would be under constant pressure when the isolation and backflow preventer are open. This apparatus can supply only so much water at a set (declining as it
travels the length of a pipe) pressure.
So Now you have a supply line, a BPD and a constant pressure line that has water flow. At this point each required head will require a certain flow of water in gallons per minute and a dynamic pressure which is required to operate your particular head. Your system is designed with these constraints in mind and the pressure and flow available is made use of at differing intervals (Timer and Control valves) such that your watering requirements are made in conjunction with how much your apparatus can supply with adequate operating pressure and flow. The Pressure line is separated from the sprinkler heads by lateral or zone lines that are only under pressure when the Zone or station valve is open. This Station or zone valve is typically an electronic valve operated by a Timer or controller that is connected, Usually wired to the station valves. The resulting stations, each of which uses a similar flow and pressure that your system is able to supply coupled with a Controller or timer, comprises a system. Individually each station performs well, but open another or disrupt the system and the systems “supply-ability” would be overwhelmed.
Certainly, there are many issues which may occur and many “bells and whistles” and “one off” scenarios that were excluded here that could cause difficulties with your system but, in nutshell, this simplification is applicable and gives you a place to start when looking at the system performance or problems with the system performance.
It is notable that In Tarrant County over 50% of Summertime water use is a result of Landscape irrigation which has a huge impact on the supply and our water bills. Thus, It is very important for conservation & economic reasons to keep your system functioning optimally. If you live in Tarrant or Dallas County or elsewhere for that matter this is a great site for responsible water use. waterisawsome.com.
