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“By utilizing drip irrigation methods in gardens, flower beds and landscapes, home gardeners can deliver the exact amount of water needed at the right time, which conserves water and reduces utility costs,” said Tom Kundrat, NDS’s smart irrigation expert.
Woodland Hills, CA (PRWEB) June 28, 2016
In light of July’s Smart Irrigation Month, NDS, Inc., a leading manufacturer of drainage and stormwater management, landscape irrigation and flow management products and solutions for both residential and commercial applications, is encouraging homeowners to be proactive about monitoring their outdoor water usage and considering the environmental and financial benefits of drip irrigation.
Drip irrigation—also known as low volume or micro irrigation—is ideal for a variety of applications, including landscapes, trees and shrubs, foundation planting and raised planters, and hillsides and slopes, among others. The concept of drip irrigation is simple—through a network of underground plastic tubing and low-volume drippers and sprinklers that reach every part of a target area, water is delivered on a slow, frequent and accurate basis directly to the root zone of the plant. On average, drip irrigation systems can save households 30,000 gallons of water per year according to the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency.
“By utilizing drip irrigation methods in their gardens, flower beds and landscapes, home gardeners can deliver the exact amount of water needed at the right time, which conserves water and reduces overall utility costs,” said Tom Kundrat, NDS’s smart irrigation expert. “Due to a recent increase in water conservation efforts supported by state regulations, many homeowners are implementing drip irrigation methods. In fact, many water management districts are now granting exemptions to drip irrigation systems due to their high level of efficiency and automation.”
Smart Irrigation Month is an initiative of the Irrigation Association, a non-profit industry organization dedicated to promoting efficient irrigation. A public awareness campaign to promote efficient water use, Smart Irrigation Month is focused on July because it is traditionally the month of peak demand for outdoor water use.
According to Kundrat, some of the key benefits of drip irrigation include:
1. Healthier plants: Plants, shrubs and turf grass thrive with a slow, steady application of water and nutrients directly to the plant’s roots. Ideally moisturized soil minimizes plant stress, which slows the growth of the plant. Drip irrigation also reduces fungal diseases by keeping the foliage and the soil surface dry.
2. Water savings: Overall drip irrigation can reduce water use to 50 percent over conventional sprinkler irrigation systems, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Because of the scattered spray from winds and evaporation, sprinklers tend to waste water rather than efficiently directing the spray. Drip irrigation solves that problem by overlapping the wetting pattern beneath the group to maintain an ideal balance between the water and air.
3. Automation: Drip systems can easily be automated by integrating the irrigation system into conventional electric values and timers. These tools have been proven to help reduce the waste of water and lower overall utility costs.
4. Reduced labor and maintenance: Dripline maintenance is minimal and requires limited flushing and system evaluation. Compared to sprinklers, dripline installations have lower material costs, which means additional savings for the consumer.
5. Easy installation: Dripline irrigation can be easily installed in tight, obtuse-shaped areas that are hard for stand sprinklers and water systems to operate. Dripline irrigation systems are more effective because they are very flexible and can adapt to any plant shape. Most drainage systems can be installed in just one weekend.
“It’s important to remember the important role of drainage in smart irrigation, because they go together hand in hand,” said Kundrat. “A drip irrigation system with a good drainage plan prevents harmful waterlogging and salinization where excessive salts accumulate in the soil, and is particularly important for minimizing soil loss and erosion. In traditional overhead sprinkler irrigation, the issue is even more acute, where imprecise and excessive irrigation watering without effective drainage contributes to stormwater runoff and water pollution.”
About Tom Kundrat:
Tom Kundrat is the business development manager for professional irrigation at NDS, Inc. A Certified Irrigation Contractor (CIC) and Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor (CLIA), he has more than 18 years of experience in the irrigation industry. In his role at NDS, he educates and advises contractors, distributors and public agencies about the benefits and applications of drip irrigation for a wide variety of projects. Kundrat is a vocal advocate for water conservation and he has worked globally, assisting clients in choosing and installing water-saving products and using water-efficient design techniques.
About NDS, Inc.:
NDS, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of stormwater management, landscape irrigation and flow management products and solutions for both residential and commercial applications. Headquartered in Woodland Hills, Calif., NDS is a proud member of the NORMA Group, a global market leader in engineered joining technology. For more information about NDS, visit http://www.ndspro.com and follow on Twitter at @nds_pro.
About NDS Dura Flo CV Dripline:
An all-in-one dripline solution for all applications, NDS’s Dura Flo CV Dripline provides a higher level of water conservation for any irrigation project – all with no root intrusion. The dripper features a check valve in combination with anti-siphon capabilities—the check valve prevents low emitter drainage on shut down; the anti-siphon feature eliminates back-siphonage at each emitter. This unique combination maximizes water efficiency by minimizing water loss and protecting each emitter from clogging. For more information, visit the link here.
