Using A Gravity Fed Drip Irrigation System
A drip irrigation system is the most efficient way to water plants in a flower or vegetable garden. Connecting a drip system to a rain barrel or storage tank will maximize your water conservation efforts. This type of watering system is known as gravity fed drip irrigation.
One advantage to using rainwater diverted into a storage container is that it is pure and untreated. This water is much better for your plants because it contains none of the chemicals like fluoride or chlorine that is typically found in treated city water.
When deciding on a storage tank or rain barrel, be sure to check the outlet at the bottom of the tank. Ideally you should have a ¾ inch male hose thread like you would find on a standard spigot. If it has a different outlet you may need to purchase adaptors to allow you to connect a drip irrigation system.
With all drip irrigation systems, a minimum pressure is needed in order for it to properly operate. To gain pressure in a gravity fed system the water source needs to be elevated. The rule of thumb is that for every 2.3 feet of elevation the pressure of the system will increase by 1 pound. A water tank that is 2.3 feet tall will have 1 pound of pressure when it is completely full. However when the tank is half empty the pressure will come down to half of a pound of pressure. The same water tank elevated 5 feet in the air will have around 3 pounds of pressure when completely full.
Consider emitters and emitter tubing that will work at extremely low pressures when putting together a gravity fed system. The take apart emitters from Jain Irrigation work very well. Quarter inch soaker dripline and T-Tape are perfect for watering row crops from a rain barrel. Most watering timers available for drip irrigation systems require around ten pounds of pressure to operate which most likely will not work in this situation. However the latest technology has produced a few timers that can operate without any pressure at all.
Keep in mind that the closer the distance between your tank and garden the better. Also note that the emitters at the beginning of the drip irrigation system will most likely emit more water than emitters towards the end of the system.
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