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What Is Low Volume Irrigation?

Low volume, drip, or dripline irrigation is the application of water directly next to the plant, either with the water being applied on the surface near the plant, or in the ground, being delivered directly to the root zone.

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Is This A New Technology?

No! When Netafim opened its first plant in the mid-1960’s, there were already a number of people working on this technology. However, Netafim created commercial viability for drip and low volume irrigation products by developing and mass manufacturing products for sale.

This spawned an industry that today is recognized as the most efficient way to water.

What Makes Netafim Drip Irrigation Products So Good?

Netafim USA products offer a wide variety of advantages to the homeowner, including saving from 30% – 70% of the water they would use with overhead sprays, oscillating sprinklers or rotors, as well as growing much healthier plants. In fact, plants that are drip irrigated often grow to maturity as much as 50% – 70% faster, do so with less disease, and even reducing weeds in the garden.

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What Types Of Low Volume Products Are There?

Netafim offers two types of products – Drip and Dripline.

Drip – Drip emitters, sometimes called “point source” products are well known by many people.

An emitter is inserted into a pipe or hose, and water is delivered to a specific point. Hence the name “point source”. Only those areas that you want to have water get it, while nearby areas stay dry.

In our site you will see a variety of point source emitters. There are two families of them, Pressure Compensating Point Source Emitters and Non-Pressure Compensating Point Source Emitters.

Driplines – Dripline is tubing that has emitters already installed inside the tubing on 12″, 18″ or 24″ centers. This form of low volume irrigation is very popular because it wets the entire garden area, whereas Point Source emitters only irrigate a certain area.

Dripline is typically used where overhead spray sprinklers, rotary sprinklers or impact sprinklers would have been used. In fact, the concept of both overhead watering and dripline irrigation is to create an even wetted pattern throughout the area being irrigated. The problem is that the vagaries of overhead watering preclude that from happening.

Aren’t there other types of products? – Some companies also market specialty heads called “spinners” or mini-sprinklers to homeowners and commercial property managers. We do not.

Though Netafim USA does sell these types of products in other Divisions, they are very sensitive to alignment, height and position, and are most often found in areas like fruit orchards, not homeowner or commercial properties.

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Where Should I Use The Different Types Of Drip?

Point Source Emitters

• Wide spaced plants
• Container planting
• Hanging baskets
• Any area where water is desired in one place, but not an adjoining area

Dripline:

• Where an entire area needs to be watered, such as gardens, turfgrass, vandal-prone areas, narrow strips, odd-shaped areas, slopes, windy areas, retaining walls, trees and shrubs.

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Where Can I Use It Around My House?

The most popular place for drip and dripline irrigation is gardens. It’s here that most homeowners spend a lot of time and money, and it’s the place that really makes the home more attractive.

Hanging baskets, raised planters, and vegetable gardens are other places that need water, and which can be very easily irrigated with Netafim USA products.

While people readily admit that they can see the benefits of using drip and dripline irrigation in gardens, they are surprised to find that dripline irrigation can also be used in turfgrass. In fact, Netafim USA has been irrigating turf areas since the mid-1980’s with great success.

Can I Add Low Volume to my Existing Irrigation System or Change a Zone of Sprinklers to Low Volume?

Yes to both questions!

Adding low volume irrigation to an existing irrigation system is as easy as adding another valve, assuming you have an unused station on your controller. If you do not have an extra station on your controller, you can hook the new zone directly to a hose bib.

Because many irrigation systems only irrigate turf areas, add-on work is frequently done to include gardens.

It entails doing some plumbing work where your valves are located, (typically in the yard enclosed in a valve box) so that a new valve can be installed into your water supply.

From there, products like Techline^® CV and Techline^® are laid out throughout the new area, with the added valve being hooked up to your irrigation controller (if it is an automatic system).

To change out a zone of sprinklers to low volume, the process is even easier. Sprinklers in most residential irrigation systems either have a 1/2″ or 3/4″ female pipe thread base. Simply unscrew the sprinklers from the line and cap off all but one. The one you leave uncapped will be the beginning point for the dripline (Techline) that you will be adding.

We recommend that a Techline zone begin with a filter and pressure regulator to ensure the water is free of debris and set to a pressure of 45 psi or less.

Either install the filter and pressure regulator into the open spot where you removed the sprinkler, or place the filter and pressure regulator just downstream of the remote control valve that controls this zone. (Most electric valves are ganged together in a valve box as noted above).

Now all you need to do is weave the Techline back and forth throughout the area you are converting. The easiest way to do this is with our “Lite” layout method, pictured in Layout Section of our site. It is called the “Techline single loop design method” and requires only two fittings. If you are laying the Techline on the surface or under mulch, this is the quick and easy way to do it.

That’s it! Fast and easy, and you now have a more efficient, more effective way to irrigate your expensive garden areas.

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Does Drip Irrigation Really Save Water?

You bet! In North America, there are often 30% – 70% savings in water alone. Seems hard to believe doesn’t it? But think about it.

Sprinklers throw water everywhere. In the street, on the sidewalk, on the house, in the neighbor’s yard, on the fence, into trees and bushes, and into the air where the wind evaporates what it doesn’t dislocate. Hopefully some of it gets to the root zone where the plant needs it, but often not enough. In fact, other than the fresh look of a wet lawn, the water you are seeing on the surface will be this afternoon’s clouds…it will never get to the roots of the plants.

Because of wind, evaporation, (humidity) run-off, sprinklers that are out of adjustment, crooked, or buried too low, or when the irrigation system is operated during the day, many “overhead” irrigation systems are lucky to be about 50% efficient. (Said another way…many overhead systems use twice as much water as they should to get the job done).

Compare that to a Netafim USA system where water is applied slowly and efficiently into the soil, right where the plants need it. That means your plants get the water they are meant to have, stimulating their growth, reducing the disease so frequently found with wetted foliage and saving as much as half of the water of an overhead irrigation system.

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Can I Install Netafim Products Myself?

You bet! Netafim USA drip and dripline products are easy to install. You only need a few tools and the different parts go together very easy, often hooking right up to a hose bib for the simplest of connections.

That said, the best way to ensure that you are getting a properly designed and installed system is to rely on a professional irrigation contractor. You can find them in the Yellow Pages under “Sprinklers, Garden and Lawn”.

Another great way to get a system designed is by using a licensed Landscape Architect or Irrigation Design Consultant.

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How Do I Buy Netafim Products?

There are really two questions here. They include whether you want to tackle the job on your own or if you want to use a professional irrigation contractor.

If you want to use a professional irrigation contractor, the best place to start is the Yellow Pages under, “Sprinklers – Garden & Lawn”. There you will find the names of irrigation contractors in your area.

Another way to find contractors in your area is to call a local irrigation supply house where contractors buy their products. They are often happy to refer folks to a couple of the local contractors they work with.

If you want to tackle the job yourself, then you are a D-I-Y’er, or Do-It-Yourselfer. In that case, you will have to buy your products through a professional irrigation supply house. Netafim USA Landscape and Turf products are not sold through home centers and hardware stores.

While the actual installation is relatively easy, you will need to sit down and review the materials you will find here on our site to determine what materials you will need. Everything we currently have in print and on video is available to download in our Online Library section.

Please keep in mind that you are working with products designed for the professional side of the landscape and irrigation business. While we have made our literature as easy-to-understand as possible for the homeowner, we tailor our business to the professionals who do this type of work regularly.

If you go to our Distributor Locator page you can find the nearest Netafim USA Distributor by simply typing in your Zip Code and we will show you the nearest locations.

We encourage you to call our Distributors on the phone first because many supply houses only sell to irrigation and landscape professionals. If that is the case, drop us an e-mail. We can often help homeowners find a company that will ship the products.

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Where Can I Use Netafim Products on My Landscape?

Wherever you want! Netafim dripline and point source emitters are very well suited to work wherever you could use a spray, rotary, or impact sprinkler. That includes turfgrass, gardens, large potted plants and trees, interiorscape plantings and hanging baskets but there are even more places where it is even a better choice than sprinklers.

Consider the problems of narrow planting areas, slopes, odd-shaped areas, areas where wet surfaces are unsightly or dangerous, not to mention those hanging baskets and special plants. We can even help you grow a bumper crop of tomatoes in your vegetable garden!

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Does Netafim Really Save Water?

You bet! Netafim products have been saving water around the world for over 45 years. You’ll find us helping grow agricultural products, nursery and greenhouse products, as well as beautifying landscapes. We typically do it with half or less of the water compared to an overhead irrigation system, making us a great choice for people who want maximum plant health, growth and water conservation.

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What About Watering Bans?

All of us have heard or lived through outdoor watering restrictions or bans during droughts. And we will certainly see more restrictions as water districts grapple with strains being placed on the public water supply.

Netafim products actually support sensible water use by using virtually every drop of water. That typically translates into Netafim products receiving an exemption when other forms of outdoor watering are being restricted or banned (check with your water management district for more information). That means you don’t have to worry about losing your expensive landscaping when it is hot and dry, all while knowing that you are doing your part to help conserve water.

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How Do I Get Netafim Products Incorporated Into a New Irrigation System?

Talk with your Irrigation Contractor, Landscape Architect, or irrigation consultant about what you are looking for in your system. Explain that you want your landscape to grow to maturity as quickly as possible and that you want to save water. Tell them you want the benefits of Netafim products, and you can be assured that Netafim will help you see your landscape vision come true.

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Can I Add Netafim Products Into My Existing System?

Yes! The dripline can simply be laid on the surface, stapled down to hold it in place and then covered with mulch. It’s fast, easy, and the plants and your water district will thank you.

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Can I Use Well or Lake Water with My Netafim System?

Yes. Netafim products are designed to be used with public water, well water and even lake water. A filter is installed with the system to make sure debris is minimized.

GET CONNECTED WITH A LANDSCAPE PROFESSIONAL

Simply click on one of the links below to locate a Landscape Installer in your area.

The Irrigation Association website provides a list of landscape installers located throughout the USA.
I agree that by clicking on this link I understand that Netafim is not affiliated with any contracting companies and cannot guarantee work they do. I also understand that it is my responsibility to evaluate each contractor before I choose the contractor who is best for me.
Irrigation Association Landscape Installers

The California Landscape Contractors Association website provides a list of landscape installers in California.
I agree that by clicking on this link I understand that Netafim is not affiliated with any contracting companies and cannot guarantee work they do. I also understand that it is my responsibility to evaluate each contractor before I choose the contractor who is best for me.
California Landscape Contractors Association Landscape Installers

Simply click on one of the links below to locate a Landscape Designer or Irrigation Consultant in your area.

The Association of Professional Landscape Designers website provides a list of landscape designers located throughout the USA.
I agree that by clicking on this link I understand that Netafim is not affiliated with any landscape design companies and cannot guarantee work they do. I also understand that it is my responsibility to evaluate each landscape designer before I choose the landscape designer who is best for me.
Association of Professional Landscape Designers

The American Society of Irrigation Consultants website provides a list of irrigation consultants located throughout the USA.
I agree that by clicking on this link I understand that Netafim is not affiliated with any irrigation consulting companies and cannot guarantee work they do. I also understand that it is my responsibility to evaluate each irrigation consultant before I choose the irrigation consultant who is best for me.
American Society of Irrigation Consultants

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