5 Ways to Save Water with

Rain Bird RotorsDavid Perl

Product Manager – Commercial RotorsFebruary 17th, 2010

Agenda

The Cost of Water

Causes of Water Waste

Background Information and Definitions

5 Ways to Save Water With Rain Bird Rotors

Complimentary products

The Cost of WaterOver-watering creates problems that increase costs:

Leaches nutrients from the root zone requiring the application of additional fertilizerCauses fungus and attracts pests Major cause of plant death Adds additional time and labor to maintain siteRunoff damages hardscapesand be an expensive liability Poor public relations

A Focus On Water Efficiency

Water prices

Restricted / regulated

usage

Environmental concerns

Over-watering causes

plant death

Poor public relations

Stretched spacing

High trajectory and wind drift

Leading Causes of Irrigation Water Waste

Improper design

Improper installation

Improper pressure and

flow for nozzle

Leaks

Water applied at too

fast a rate for soil type

What is Distribution Uniformity?

How evenly the irrigation system applies water over the intended irrigation area.

Question: What will the user do about that brown spot?

Depth ofWater

Answer: Irrigate until it’s green – and over-water the rest!

How to Achieve Uniform Distribution

Good system design and sprinkler spacing

Optimal operating pressure

Minimize effects of wind

Use high-efficiency nozzles

Regular system maintenance and adjustment

Stretched spacing

High trajectory and wind drift

How to Measure Even Distribution

Physical audit / Catch can testing

Modeling / SPACE software published by Center for Irrigation Technology at California State University at Fresno

Field Audit:Catch Can Testing

High Efficiency

Low Efficiency

The PR is the average rate in inches per hour at which water is being applied to the area covered by a specific sprinkler layout

PR is a function of the total sprinkler discharge applied to the area between the sprinklers

PR is not a measurement of uniformity and assumes 100% efficiency over every square inch of the sprinklers area of coverage

Precipitation Rate (PR)

The DU is a measurement of uniformity, expressed as a percentage, comparing the driest 25% of the area to the average PR A perfectly uniform application is represented by a DU of 100%. A less uniform application is represented by a lower percentageThis uniformity measurement is used in the Irrigation Assoc. Water Auditor Program

Distribution Uniformity (DU)

The SC is a measurement of uniformity, comparing the driest area to the average PR

A perfectly uniform application, a layout where all areas receive exactly the same amount of water, would have a SC of 1.00

The SC can also be used as a scheduling multiplier

Scheduling Coefficient (SC)

5 Ways to Save Water with Rain Bird Rotors

1. Rain Curtain™ Nozzles

2. Pressure Regulation

3. Matched Precipitation Rate (MPR)

4. Seal-a-Matic (SAM) Check Valve

5. Low Flow Nozzles

5 Ways to Save Water with Rain Bird Rotors

1. Rain Curtain™ Nozzles

2. Pressure Regulation

3. Matched Precipitation Rate (MPR)

4. Seal-a-Matic (SAM) Check Valve

5. Low Flow Nozzles

Rain Curtain™ Technology

Create a Cohesive stream for maximum distance of throw.

Generate Larger droplets that are less susceptible to wind and airborne evaporation.

Deliver even water distribution across the entire radius range for superior green grass.

Short to Mid-Range Rain Curtain Nozzle Technology from 15-50 feet

http://rainbird.com/landscape/products/rotors/raincurtain_demo.htm

Patented Micro-Ramps for Superior Close in Watering

Rain Curtain™ Technology

Long-range watering port

Mid-range watering port

Factory-installed port for consistent, effective, close-in watering

Long-Range Rain Curtain™ Nozzle Technologyfrom 40 to 81 feet

http://rainbird.com/landscape/products/rotors/raincurtain_demo.htm

Rain Curtain™ Nozzle Technology

Three key elements:

1. Large droplets minimize effects of wind

2. Superior close-in watering

3. Even distribution

All Rain Bird Rotors use Rain Curtain™ Nozzles!

1

2

3

5 Ways to Save Water with Rain Bird Rotors

1. Rain Curtain™ Nozzles

2. Pressure Regulation

3. Matched Precipitation Rate (MPR)

4. Seal-a-Matic (SAM) Check Valve

5. Low Flow Nozzles

Pressure Variation

Short Term Variation– Usage– Maintenance– Electric rates– Restrictions

Long Term Variation– Community development– Changing regulations– Water source

Pressure Variation

Pressure Variation

Pressure Variation

Sprinkler Operating Pressure

High pressure results in ineffective misting and fogging

Reduce pressure at the sprinkler head

Sprinkler Operating Pressure

Low pressure results in poor, uneven nozzle performance

Increase pressure with booster pumps

In-Stem Pressure Regulation for Rotors

5000/5000 Plus Series Rotor with PRS:

PRS – Pressure Regulating Stem In-stem pressure regulation reduces inlet pressure to 45 psi for optimal nozzle performance.

How It Saves Water:

Eliminates head-to-head pressure variationEliminates mistingImproves distribution uniformity

Pressure Regulating Stem in 5000 Series Rotors

Hunter PGP @ 75psi 5000 Plus PRS @ 75psi

5 Ways to Save Water with Rain Bird Rotors

1. Rain Curtain™ Nozzles

2. Pressure Regulation

3. Matched Precipitation Rate (MPR)

4. Seal-a-Matic (SAM) check valve

5. Low Flow Nozzles

Matched Precipitation Rate

Traditionally done by calculating the precipitation rate for each rotor.

Example5004 with 45 PSI and Standard Nozzles

Nozzle Radius GPM Precip RateFull 8 47ft 8.03 0.70”/hr1/2 4 42ft 4.01 0.88”/hr1/3 3 40ft 3.09 1.11”/hr1/4 2 37ft 2.07 1.08”/hr

How do you ensure the person putting the rotor in the ground understands this?

Matched Precipitation Rate

The New Standard: MPR NozzlesExample5004 with 45 PSI and MPR Nozzles (Beige)

Nozzle Radius GPM Precip RateFull F 35ft 7.58 0.60”/hr1/2 H 35ft 3.81 0.60”/hr1/3 T 35ft 2.46 0.58”/hr1/4 Q 35ft 1.92 0.60”/hr

Simple, Easy & Efficient

Water-Saving MPR NozzlesThe New Standard

Matched Precipitation Rate (MPR) Nozzles0.6 inches/hour for quarter, one-third, half and full MPR designs are fast and easyAvailable in 25 ft, 30 ft and 35 ft versionsWith MPR Rotor Nozzles and Rotary Nozzles, you can design for MPR from 13' to 35'

5 Ways to Save Water with Rain Bird Rotors

1. Rain Curtain™ Nozzles

2. Pressure Regulation

3. Matched Precipitation Rate (MPR)

4. Seal-a-Matic (SAM) Check Valve

5. Low Flow Nozzles

Leak Prevention from Low Head Drainage

14

feet

Low head without SAM wastes water

Built-in Seal-a-Matic (SAM) check valve saves water and prevents erosion from low-head drainage.

SAM Check ValvesSAM Check Valves available in these Rain Bird Sprays and Rotors:

1800-SAM Sprays

3500 SAM Rotors

5000/5000 Plus SAM Rotors

5505 SAM Rotors

Falcon 6504 SAM Rotors

7005 SAM Rotors

8005 SAM Rotors

SAM Check ValvesResidential Example (The House on the Hill)– ½ acre with 5 zones, – 4 rotors in each zone running down a slope– 30 feet between rotors– 1 inch pipe

600 feet of pipe X .041 Gallons per foot of pipe = 24 gallons

24 Gallons * 156 cycles per year = 3,819 gallons of waste per year

5 Ways to Save Water with Rain Bird Rotors

1. Rain Curtain™ Nozzles

2. Pressure Regulation

3. Matched Precipitation Rate (MPR)

4. Seal-a-Matic (SAM) Check Valve

5. Low Flow Nozzles

Low Flow Nozzles

PR must depend on the soil type, slope and vegetation

Soil with high levels of clay cannot absorb water quickly and need a low precipitation rate

Rain Bird offers low flowoptions for all rotors

Low Flow Nozzles

Family Low Flow High Flow

3500 0.54GPM / 0.46”/H 4.60GPM / 0.83”/H

5000/5000+ 1.12GPM / 0.20”/H 9.63GPM / 0.86”/H

5500 1.20GPM / 0.21”/H 15.5GPM / 0.99”/H

6504 2.90GPM / 0.37”/H 21.7GPM / 1.14”/H

7005/8005 3.80GPM / 0.48”/H 36.3GPM / 1.23”/H

5 Ways to Save Water with Rain Bird Rotors

1. Rain Curtain™ Nozzles

2. Pressure Regulation

3. Matched Precipitation Rate (MPR)

4. Seal-a-Matic (SAM) Check Valve

5. Low Flow Nozzles

Complementary Products

Cycle & Soak ESP – LX

ET Manager

Complete MPR Nozzle sets in sprays with MPR, VAN, and, U-Series

All 4, 6, and 12” 1800 Series Sprays are available with a SAM check valve or a 45 psi pressure regulating device for Rotary Nozzles and 30 psi PRS device for MPR, VAN, and U-Series

5 Ways to Save Water with

Rain Bird RotorsDavid Perl

Product Manager – Commercial RotorsFebruary 17th, 2010