Drip/Lowflow Questions

[riles32807]

Hi I'm a landscape architect/designer who's been doing irrigation design for my company for about 2 years now. We do mostly do fairly large projects such as strip malls/office parks and common area for residential developments. More and more of our clients are comming to us asking about drip/lowflow irrigation. This is partially due to the 'green' trend, and partially due to local municipalities instituting water restrictions favorable to drip/lowflow. I've read up and feel that I have a solid grasp of the design aspect, but there's some installation & cost aspects that I haven't been able to find good answers for.

1. Cost
- Could anyone give me a rough estimate of the difference in installed cost regular sparys vs. lowflow/drip?

- Same thing for maintanence.

2. Drip pipe (Netafim/Rainbird Dripline)
- What is the average life in the field of drip pipe? & maintanance issues?

- Can it be used effectivly under sod areas? If not what are some other alternitives?

Thanks,

Andrew

[stressrelief]

hi andrew

cost no shore

life span

i work on an farm we use low flow drip irrigation
we are still using it after 5 years on the ground and still going strong

problems with drip is large trees will grow over it squeeze the pipe and cut off the water down the line needs to be lifted and moved every year or so

if used tip place a sprinkler at the flushing end of the line sprinkler not working the there is a problem with line

yes it is the best for the job under turf


Ron