How To Set Up A Gravity Fed Water System

Gravity fed irrigation

By Pat Kendzierski

A gravity fed irrigation organisation is a cheap constructive way to provide water for a smaller sized ingather surface area. It would be especially toll constructive if the climate of the expanse can provide plenty precipitation to consistently keep a reservoir filled using rain water harvesting techniques. The bones system is very unproblematic consisting of an elevated reservoir with a pipage coming out the lesser that feeds water into a basic drip irrigation arrangement that is all controlled either by paw or with a very efficient battery powered timer that controls the rate at which the crop is watered.

The components needed include:

1. A water reservoir

- Information technology must be able to contain at least one days worth of h2o

- The greater the chapters of the reservoir is proportional to how often it must be refilled

- The complication of having a very large container is that you lot must elevate it in a higher place the crop and refilling a very loftier container is more work

- The reason to elevate the tank is that information technology adds pressure which needs to be kept consistent at the indicate where the drip lines are fed and so that the water is distributed equally���

two. A structure to support the water reservoir

- Can be synthetic of annihilation that can support the weight of the ��container when information technology is filled with water

- It must as well be able to withstand exterior forces such as the wind

- An 880 gal container full weighs 4 tons

3. Pipage

- There must be a pipage at the base of the reservoir that lets water period out and having a shut off valve at this connection point is a good thought if the reservoir is larger than one days worth of water.

- The piping if using the timer method then feeds the h2o through a filter

- Different sized pipage should be used to increase the force per unit area

- This is done by gradually decreasing the size of the lines being used such as starting with a 2ft line at the base of the reservoir so decreasing the size every 1-4ft so that it would then exist a 1ft, 6in, 3in, 1in, 1/2in, down to the 1/8in emitters in the drip lines

4. Timer and Filter

- There are many models of bombardment powered timers that tin can be gear up up and run for a whole season

- These timers command the frequency that water is emitted into the baste lines

- A filter must be installed in the h2o line before the timer valves

- This prevents the smaller lines from condign clogged � � �

v. Valves and Drip lines

- Close off valves should be placed between the reservoir pipes and the irrigation pipes and before the timer valves

- Baste lines are the average lines and emitters that can exist purchased at any garden supply store

The Construction:

If y'all are using a small arrangement that can exist refilled daily with no timer it can be created for almost 20 dollars.

If you employ the big organization the price will vary profoundly depending on what is bought at what price and then for safety I will circular up on the average price of materials.

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The Small System:

This can exist done using a 5gal saucepan equally a container, annihilation that stands at to the lowest degree 4ft off the basis every bit the structure, conventional 32mm hose that you lot tin punch holes into and add some other scrap of line and so that the water in precisely delivered to the roots.

The Big Organisation:

I haven�t seen this pattern fabricated so this is only to illustrate the concept

The reservoir should be as large as necessary because the smaller it is the easier it volition be to fill and support. The structure must exist very stable such as physical or well braced metallic, forest, stone. The piping is PVC and con exist cut into any size and various joints are available so that any shape or adaptation to size can easily be made. The filter can be bought at any garden eye and must be flushed periodically. The timer tin can also exist bought at a garden eye but research may provide a cheaper or higher quality product. The baste lines are standard sizes and are hands set upwards.

Maintenance:

The hosing may demand to exist replaced after a season of existence exposed to the elements just if it is winterized past draining and indoor storage the can final for several years. The timer�s battery must be replaced afterwards each flavour. The filter must exist flushed periodically and only opening a valve on the filter ordinarily does this. The construction should be examined to brand sure it is sound earlier filling it. The container should be washed out with bleach earlier being used for a 2d season. � �

�#44355, i/two" Antelco In Line Filter @ $ 3.xix

�$ three.xix

�#50038 Antelco Miracle Punch @ $ 18.50

�$ 18.50

�#45545 Antelco 1" Light-green Back Valve @ $ 4.94

�$ 24.70

�1" Screen Filter #API 4E-1A-150 @ $ 24.00

�$ 24.00

�Auto. Digital Hose Faucet Timer #CONT 62001 @ $ 56.l

�$ 56.50

�#40195 Antelco .18" Joiner (Each) @ $ 0.10

�$ v.00

�#40295 Antelco .18" Elbow (Each) @ $ 0.18

�$ 1.80

�one/2 x 500 Poly Tubing ($6 Treatment Fee included) @ $ 41.00

�$ 41.00

�

Total:� $ 174.69

� ������� + $200 or more

��������� $350-500

This toll summary does not include the reservoir or the material for the construction. They will vary greatly depending on what type of materials are used.

These systems are very elementary and can be modified greatly. This was supposed to present the concepts and a method only there is surely innumerous ways this can be inverse or enhanced. Experiment with whatsoever seems to make the nearly sense. � �

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Source: https://depts.washington.edu/propplnt/Chapters/Gravity%20fed%20irrigation%20System.htm

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