Filter/Pressure Regulator Locations

17 years ago

My yard has 11 valves - 5 to water the grass and 6 to water the garden and planters. Unfortunately, these 11 valves are located in three different locations around my house.

The landscape architect foolishly specified standard sprinklers for the planters, which just doesn't work well considering my soil type and living on a hillside. I've had great success with drip irrigation in the past, so I want to convert the planters and garden over to drippers.

Because of the three different valve locations, this poses a bit of a problem for placement of the pressure regulators. I guess I'll have to install 6 individual pressure regulators on the appropriate lines or else the lawn sprinklers won't have enough pressure.

What about filtering the irrigation water? Can I install ONE filter before the first set of valves to filter everything? This filter would have to be designed to withstand a constant 100 PSI since the first valves will be down line.

Any suggestions about how to accomplish this feat? Should I opt for brass parts instead of plastic?

Comment (1)

hookoodooku
17 years ago
You should be able to get a Wye filter that you can place just up-stream from your backflow preventer. They do make ones designed for "main lines" (water pipes under constant pressure). A PVC filter designed for only 100 psi might not still be enough (such as pressure spikes that can exceed 100psi momentary when irrigation valves suddenly close). Rainbird makes one that is rated to 150 psi, you'll want the 200# mesh screen.

And as you already know, the drip irrigation will require pressure regulators. Rainbird (and others) make inline PVC pressure regulators set for 30, 40, and 50 psi. The thing I did was to put one of these regulators just before the set of valves that control drip irrigation. Again, these regulators are rated for 150psi mainline pressures. The way I laid out my irrigation system was that the mainline when to the lawn irrigation valve manifold. The mainline continued to the drip irrigation manifold, and I placed a single pressure regulator between the two manifolds.
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