In Singapore weather, sustaining a lush and green garden all year round takes time and effort, especially since Singapore is one of the most water-stressed countries in the world. The use of potable, non-potable and NEWater is significantly high here. Potable and NEWater are used for human consumption, and non-potable water is for domestic chores like gardening and washing. Under such dire circumstances, the popularity of drip irrigation systems has increased for commercial and residential gardens.
This irrigation system can help you nurture a thriving and low-maintenance garden. In this blog, you can find quick and easy-to-follow steps to troubleshoot the irrigation systems for your outdoor and rooftop gardens in Singapore.
A step-by-step guide to drip irrigation system maintenance:
1. Visual and manual inspection
While installing your drip irrigation systems, professional landscape artists often cover it with mulch to maintain the aesthetic value of the landscape. Hence, uncover the set-up and run a visual check for any leaks along the pipeline. Then check each lateral valve manually to test the pressure. Most systems work within 20-50 PSI, as exceeding this threshold can be damaging.
2. Check the controller
Now you can manually check the controller and the valves. Switch on the controller to ensure each valve can open and close without a hitch. Now try out the process of irrigation to examine each valve zone for malfunctioning emitters. It can also help you spot other defects, for example, dents in the tubing, cracks in the pipeline leading to disrupted water flow, and missing parts.
3. Check the emitter for Blockages
Did you know in 2021, Singapore sold over 316 million cubic metres of potable water and 184.9 million cubic metres of non-potable water? This is important because nowadays, irrigation systems use different types of water such as reclaimed, treated, non-potable etc. Therefore, you should thoroughly assess the emitters and filters. Filters are fitted in the system to protect the emitters, as emitters are comparatively smaller than them. Disc filters work best to catch the sediments and prevent clogging.
4. Lateral flushing
Experts advise flushing and cleaning your dripline using the lateral flushing technique. Lateral flushing can effectively clean the debris and accumulated materials clogging the dripline and the dripper’s inlet of water. Consult with your landscape professional about installing a lateral flush valve, it can ensure automatic flushing. You can run the flush every 2-3 weeks for 30-60 seconds.
5. Spring cleaning
Just like your home and wardrobe, your irrigation system can also benefit from spring cleaning. You can clear any accumulated dirt in the dripline by flushing the main line. Conduct a proper and thorough check using the steps discussed above. It can ensure that your filters are intact and that the water pressure is also perfect for the emitters.
Conclusion
Manually watering a large garden or a landscape is a laborious process. Installing an automatic or semi-automatic irrigation system can be beneficial. Drip irrigation is suitable for different sizes and types of gardens, like rooftop gardens, vertical wall planters, elaborate landscapes etc.
Consult Prince’s Landscape Pte Ltd in Singapore for a detailed consultation on drip irrigation planning, design and maintenance, today!
