Re: pressureless drip irrigation?

Hi Sean
This will work, but it will take must longer for the top row to get a certain amount of water than the bottom row, so you must allow for this. The only problem what could occur is that the top row is not low enough and the emitters will not work. Also due to the low velocity in the tubes the emitters might block easier. Select emitter  that can be adjusted. The best type has a bottom which goes in the tube and a turnable top with holes which can be adjusted from trickling to a small mini fountain. They cost here about Euro 0.22 each. They are also easy to clean because the top can be taken off.
Regards
Wim
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2003 11:25 PM
Subject: Re: pressureless drip irrigation?

Hi Diane -

An interesting problem!  Since gravity flow delivers the most water at the lowest point in the system, I'm wondering if something like the following might work.  If you were able to grid the slope with strictly horizontal drip lines, so that all the emitters in one horizontal line are at exactly the same elevation, you could open one of these lines at a time, irrigating horizontal 'stripes' of the planting in sequence.

An attempt to explain graphically (view with a fixed font such as Courier):

Phase 1 - (water first tier)
top of hill (i.e. water source)
                    |
   ===================================
   |          |          |           |
   |          |          |           |
   =================================== open
   |          |          |           |
   |          |          |           |
   ----------------------------------- shut off
   |          |          |           |
   |          |          |           |
   ----------------------------------- shut off
bottom of hill

Phase 2 - (water second tier)
top of hill (i.e. water source)
                    |
   ===================================
   |          |          |           |
   |          |          |           |
   ----------------------------------- shut off
   |          |          |           |
   |          |          |           |
   =================================== open
   |          |          |           |
   |          |          |           |
   ----------------------------------- shut off
bottom of hill

Phase 3 - (water third tier)
top of hill (i.e. water source)
                    |
   ===================================
   |          |          |           |
   |          |          |           |
   ----------------------------------- shut off
   |          |          |           |
   |          |          |           |
   ----------------------------------- shut off
   |          |          |           |
   |          |          |           |
   =================================== open
bottom of hill

Seems like it might have a chance to work for you(?)
Anyway, good luck!
Regards,
Seán O.

h o r t u l u s   a p t u s     -    'a garden suited to its purpose'      
Seán A. O'Hara                     sean@support.net
1034A Virginia Street, Berkeley, California 94710-1853, U.S.A.

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