PDA

View Full Version : Dual feed irrigation



BARRY ADAIR
04-17-2007, 04:25 PM
Call today on a rural property with stock tanks (ponds).
They say the grounds landscape irrigation is a dual feed from city water supply and stock tanks.


I'm thinking due to turbidity, microbial growth, and algae there would have to be some sort of filtration system on the tank feed side.
Other obvious components would be check valve and back flow prevention...

Any thing else???
Anyone familiar with these systems and components, help or information would be appreciated?

Jerry Peck
04-17-2007, 10:13 PM
Definite cross-connection potential, and that's a big problem.

They need two separate systems with separate pumps and valving, backflow valves, air gaps, you name it, to avoid a real bad case of contamination from a cross-connection.

Rick Hurst
04-17-2007, 10:52 PM
Barry,

Often I see the set-up you mention when inspecting homes around the Lake Tawokoni or Cedar Creek area.

You can talk cross-comtamination all day to these folks and yet it never gets repaired. All they can think of is the "free water source" from the lake.
Of course it still goes on the report.

Take a stock pond now, esp. if there is cattle and you have a real threat of bacteria with the cross contamination.

Thom Walker
04-17-2007, 11:26 PM
What Jerry said.

Could they not accomplish the same end if they replenished the ponds from a filtered City water supply and only drew irrigation water from the ponds?

Rick Hurst
04-18-2007, 07:25 AM
Thom,

That would not be very cost-effective.

Running water back directly into the pond from the city water supply, you'd would then be dealing with the evaporation problem.

Actually you'd use less water from the direct feed.

We'e in an area where we have had drought problems for a few years. Oh, we've had plenty of rain for a month or so now but our lakes or resevoirs are still down plenty. Because of the water restrictions on the city water supply side, people around the lakes or bodies of water have started pumping water off those areas without taking any precautions at all.

The sprinkler system companies are making a mint off the folks elsewhere. Since most of us are restricted to water our lawns to once a week, the sprinkler companies are installing these elaborate drip line systems which run around the foundations and throughout the landscaping. These lines can be "discretely" operated without the water patrols noticing so much.

Rick