Next to having freshwater for drinking, water for irrigation systems is the second most important requirement for people – otherwise, we wouldn’t have fresh fruits and vegetables on our dinner plates! It is estimated that approximately 70% of freshwater extracted from rivers, lakes, and reservoirs is used for irrigation purposes, so it is critical that irrigation systems are designed for efficiency, sustainability, and to prevent backflow.
Irrigation systems are rarely designed with reparability and failure prevention in mind. Components are often buried where they are difficult to access, are not testable or repairable, and fail to prevent overpressure or water-hammer events that damage components and cause leaks. Download this document from Watts, “Flow Control for Irrigation”, to learn more about approaches to designing your irrigation system.