Many new projects are located in areas where water quality is poor and/or availability is limited. Our worldwide experience is very valuable in assisting our clients in working with the challenges of limited or poor water. The cost of water can be extremely high so all possible sources should be considered.
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR DEVELOPERS TO CONSIDER THE ENTIRE IRRIGATION REQUIREMENT FOR A PROJECT IN THE PRE-DESIGN PLANNING STAGE INCLUDING THE COMMON AREA IRRIGATION AND THE GOLF COURSE.
We will work closely with the owner, golf and landscape architects, turf consultant, and landscape architect to determine the total irrigated area based on the turf and plant material selected. The landscape plant density is also considered.
Aqua Turf International (ATI) will research the local weather and determine the local evapotranspiration rate (ET) so the requirement can be determined. The data can be prepared on a monthly basis to determine the average annual water requirement after rainfall. The data will also be evaluated on a monthly basis to ensure adequate capacity during peak demand.
See a Sample Water Use Report
ATI will evaluate water quality and the effects on irrigation components, pumps, turf and landscape. We will develop options in regards to materials to be utilized in the system that is tolerant to the possible special water and site conditions. Material availability based on the location in the world will also be considered. ATI will coordinate with manufacturers regarding alternative materials for pumps, fittings, pipes, etc. ATI will evaluate the materials, warranties, costs, and benefits and provide comparisons and recommendations for review.
Some landscape plant materials may not be as salt tolerant as others or the turf selected. Greens turf may have a different salt tolerance than the fairways and tees. Also, the use of brackish water can cause a buildup of salts that will require periodic flushing with fresh water. Therefore, it may be necessary to provide dual sources of water when quality is poor. This information is critical prior to the design in order to properly determine the pump needs of the turf and landscape of the entire project. Separate pump stations may be required for golf and landscape to accommodate different management as well as water types. The opportunity may exist to house separate pumps in the same location to help reduce some costs such as those for the building, electrical, and intake.
Evaluation of irrigation reservoir locations
The potential irrigation reservoir locations will be evaluated based on the irrigation requirements, recharge capacity, water sources and emergency storage capacity required. The emergency storage capacity will be determined by the reliability of the water sources. The acceptable size of the irrigation reservoir will be determined based on the recharge rate from the water sources and what is considered an acceptable lake drawdown during irrigation in the evening. If the lake is not of adequate size in comparison to the water source recharge rate then the lake will have excessive drawdown which is unsightly to golfers and residents.
ATI will provide the pump system planning and determine the pump capacity based on projected water requirements. Pump system planning will include the location of the reservoir, pump/motor sizing, depth, and electrical requirements. Filtration will be included as needed. Water treatment will also be evaluated.
ATI can also provide water transfer and water feature pumping plans to help move water from other lakes to the irrigation reservoir as needed.
Also, the lake aeration can be evaluated and designed to ensure your lakes are maintained in a healthy fashion.
Contact us for any questions on irrigation water use planning
Please contact your nearest ATI office if you need more information about our irrigation system programming service.