MARGO DAMEIER
OSU Hood River County Extension
Central Gorge Master Gardener volunteer
“Irrigation is the lifeblood that nourishes the growth of our fields and the prosperity of our communities.” - Unknown
When I saw this quote it immediately caught my attention and made me think deeper about how we are all connected through irrigation. Just hearing the word irrigation brings thoughts of commercial crops and big irrigation systems to my mind, but there’s also an individual element to our connection with the water we use for our lawns and gardens. As a home gardener, I appreciate my irrigation district and the water that they provide. Especially since there was no irrigation available on the farm that I grew up on in northern Illinois. Fortunately, each week we’d receive some form of rain. These were usually light, lingering rains and the rich clay soil would retain much of the moisture that would fall. There would also be times when the fields needed rain at the right time and received none. I remember one year after the corn seed was freshly sown and no rain fell. One evening, we sat on our front porch watching a thunderstorm about 20-30 miles away provide needed water to other farms, while ours stayed dry. We received enough rain the following week for germination and the corn, alfalfa and soybeans grew well and yielded enough to feed the cattle through the winter. Because of this, I never take my ability to use irrigation water for granted.
In the Central Gorge, we are fortunate to have reliable water sources at reasonable rates. When setting up your home irrigation system it’s important to first consider your water source and its cost, plus the cost of delivering the water to the desired areas. Whether you’re using domestic, well or irrigation water to keep your yard and garden green, all delivery systems have one thing in common… constant maintenance.
When designing a home irrigation system, the first thing to consider is your water source and its pressure. Why does this matter? Different water sources have different issues that need to be addressed, and the pressure of the water determines your delivery methods.
Domestic water is the cleanest source since it’s potable. You won’t find silt, sediment or seeds in domestic water, and this makes it a good candidate for drip and sprinkler irrigation systems. However, irrigating with domestic water can be costly. Drip irrigation with several inches of mulch on top of the soil and driplines will lessen evaporation and allow your plants to use nearly every drop of the domestic water that you’re paying for. Drip irrigation is very versatile as well as being easy and fun to install. Check out this publication from WSU to learn details of how to set up your drip system:
Drip Irrigation for the Yard and Garden
Be sure to contact your domestic water service to make sure you can use domestic water for irrigation purposes first though. There are some areas of the Central Gorge where domestic water is not allowed for irrigation use.
Well water comes from an underground aquifer and can be used for irrigation. The advantage of irrigating with well water is that once you’ve made the investment of drilling and installing a pump, the water is yours to use for free. The disadvantage of irrigating from a well is that the water can become contaminated by agricultural runoff or have issues with pH levels and other minerals. Regular testing can determine if your well water is safe for irrigation. If your well water is cloudy or you see sediment or algae, don’t use it for irrigation purposes. Another thing to consider is that your water pump can’t provide water at a consistent rate and it will be at lower pressures than domestic water. This is something to take into consideration when selecting a delivery method to your lawn and garden. High levels of iron or other minerals cause your well to provide hard water. Don’t try to soften well water that you’re using for irrigation as too much salt can damage your plants. You can run sprinklers or a drip system on well water, although your sprinklers and drip lines can get clogged with minerals and will need routine maintenance or to be replaced. Selecting sprinklers can be a bit tricky due to the water pressure issues. I suggest that you consult with one of our local businesses that offer irrigation supplies and allow them to advise you.
Those who have irrigation rights to one of the many regional irrigation districts are able to use the snowmelt off our local volcanoes for irrigation. This type of irrigation water contains silt, sediment and seeds. Having a good filter system before it enters your sprinklers and drip system is very important. Even with a good filter that’s cleaned regularly, you’ll still be dealing with clogged sprinklers and driplines.
The first irrigation system I set up at my home was dragging hoses and sprinklers to areas of my lawn, flower beds, garden and berry patch. This demanded constant monitoring to make sure the sprinklers weren’t plugged up with seeds and debris. At this time, my irrigation water was supplied through an open ditch irrigation canal. I had a water pump that needed to be primed before turning it on and it would turn off whenever the intake pipe in the canal got clogged. There was a handmade filter about the size of a paper towel tube that was made of window screening. It attached to the intake pipe and jutted out into the canal to catch debris. But that was decades ago. Now, my irrigation water is delivered to my property in underground pipes and I have efficient filters that are easy to keep clean. I put in an automated underground system with eight zones and they start rotating through their cycles at whatever day and time I set them for. I’m glad I put this in when I did, but I wish that I knew then what I know now about irrigation systems. I would have added more zones and I’d have more sprinklers in each zone.
Each irrigation district has a different fee schedule, and a good portion of the users’ bill goes towards infrastructure. Our local irrigation districts have been and continue to put significant resources into their water delivery systems. You can learn more about your irrigation district by visiting their website.
No matter what your water source for irrigation is, be sure that you’re using water legally. OSU has put out the publication ‘Living on the Land: Using Irrigation Water Legally’ for your information:
Here are two great how-to articles I found from Texas A&M AgriLife Research Center and Colorado State University Extension that will explain nearly everything you need to know about sprinkler systems. And remember that all irrigation systems require regular monitoring and maintenance.
Homeowners Guide to Sprinkler System
Operating and Maintaining a Home Irrigation System
Central Gorge Master Gardener volunteers provide free beginning gardening classes and continuing education to home gardeners. For research-based information about specific gardening or pest questions, submit your concern online at extension.oregonstate.edu/mg/hoodriver or by phone at 541-386-3343. Home gardeners can also drop off plant or pest samples Monday - Thursday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the OSU Hood River County Extension Service,
2990 Experiment Station Drive, Hood River, OR.
The Central Gorge Master Gardener program is a division of the OSU Hood River County Extension Service. OSU Extension Service prohibits discrimination in all its programs, services, activities, and materials.
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