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Irrigation Services
Authorised Rainbird Distributor
Great News we have published our web site 18.5.2005 now you can gain information about our products and services 24/7
check back soon to see our updates on this site and don't forget to bookmark us
coming in the next few weeks online shop for spares and service items
We will be adding Hunter products to this site soon
ARE YOU READY?
The irrigation season is now upon us and once again its time
to ensure you and your system are prepared.
The period between February and October 2003 was the driest
on record and this has resulted in many clubs and sports facilities investing in
new systems and technology and upgrading and further automating irrigation
systems on golf courses.
Whilst the
general level of irrigation provision on UK golf courses and other facilities
such as football pitches and cricket grounds has improved significantly, there
is a need to optimise the use of these better systems and making intelligent use
of water.
Much has been said about The Water Bill in England and
Wales.
This will have an affect, not just on clubs with boreholes
or water course Abstraction Licences, but also on those using public mains
supplies.
What is
particularly relevant to every Course Manager, whether it is for budget
concerns, agronomic or water availability reasons, is that irrigation water is
used to maximum effect at minimum cost.
All too often, however, irrigation is still given a low
priority. Clearly the operational parameters for irrigation are wider than those
for other maintenance operations such as chemical application, but over watering
in particular, can cause major long-term turf management problems.
In addition to
the pure turf grass issue, significant reductions in water use can be achieved
when a Course Manager can rely on sound knowledge of irrigation principles and
combine it with a reliable, accurate system that will give cost savings.
PC based
technology is the future of golf course irrigation control.
Systems in which sprinkler application rates are calculated
automatically using site data eliminate the need for manual calculation.
The biggest
benefit is, however, that sprinkler operating times can be based upon
application rates shown in millimetres per hour.
This allows a direct correlation between water losses
through ET, infiltration rates and grass types and irrigation application rates.
In conjunction with an ET rate calculating weather station and using a PC
operating environment, ET rates can be used to set and adjust sprinkler run
times quickly and precisely.
This combination of PC based controller and weather station
is increasingly becoming the standard arrangement for many golf course
installations.
The most advanced PC based control systems take this a stage
further, however, and can be linked directly with a compatible ET rate
calculating weather station. The ET value is then taken by the irrigation
controller software and automatically adjusts irrigation-operating times on a
regular basis. Fine-tuning is achieved by inputting site factors codes that
coverage grass type, soils, slopes and other relevant topographical and
operational influences.
Such systems are relatively unusual in the UK. For most
courses the useful and practical manual system works very satisfactorily.
Today, perhaps
no more than 10% of Course Managers have the benefit of PC based irrigation
control. The majority rely on “box-on-the-wall” controllers.
When a club is considering a new system the decision makers,
Committee Members, Club Directors and Manager's, as well as Course Managers have
an adequate understanding of what they are buying. Companies such as Rainbird
and Toro are experts in irrigation and can assist the decision makers and advise
on the long-term benefits of such design aspects as correct sprinkler selection
and positioning.
They can also
provide advice on other factors such as the advantages of having individual
control of sprinklers on greens is essential if the right choices are to be
made.
An example is
that of tees irrigation. At one time tees were irrigated using a single row of
sprinklers down the centre of the tee. These were set to rotate through 360_ and
in order to cover the tee surface adequately they would overthrow the tee by as
much as 40%. Most tees are irrigated using sprinklers located along the edges
and set to rotate through 180_ across the tee surface. This often requires a row
of sprinklers down each side although a slightly higher initial capital expense.
The benefit in reduction of water use over the single centre row to apply the
same amount of water to the actual tee surface can by as high as 70%. Thus
offsets the initial cost by reducing water cost.
Automatic irrigation is recognised as an important factor in
UK golf course management, many purchasing decisions are being made seeking a
comprehensive technical and commercial evaluation and three or four design
proposals, choosing the best irrigation system becomes paramount in cost
savings. Some clubs decide to employ an irrigation consultant to design and
specify an irrigation system, but many seek out professional contractors and
request design and build proposals in conjunction with major manufacturers of
equipment such as Rainbird and Toro. In doing so they must take a planned,
informed approach, as the follow on maintenance and reliability should also be
taken into account this is where the contractor can assist with on going
maintenance, repairs and spare parts supply, has yours sprung a leak so far?
Who's to say that the summer of 2005 won't be another long
dry one?
Are you prepared?
valves Spray heads and sprinklers
Controllers, Monitors and Timers
Valves, Pumps Hose and Fittings
