Conserve Water and Win a Vacation with a Rain Bird Sprinkler

Rain Bird is currently running a contest that will send 3 winners to Texas if they prove to have used the company's pressure-regulating machines to conserve water. The contest is part of Project PRS Challenge that aims to educate irrigation professionals and homeowners about the benefits of using such systems. One example of how beneficial Rain Bird sprinkler systems are is University of Texas-Austin's drip irrigation technology that installed water in its 125-acre landscape. While the project cost the school a staggering $2 million, the $800,000 worth of savings in utilities and conservation of 10 million gallons of water every year makes the investment well worth it. As of August, Project PRS has already logged water savings of up to over 57 million gallons. Rain Bird and other irrigation professionals will continue to promote the conservation of water by using irrigation systems even after the contest has concluded.

http://www.aquaflo.com/save-water-through-a-rain-bird-sprinkler-win-a-trip-to-texas-in-november/

Rain Bird Drip Irrigation: Easing Farmers' Worries of Water Quality Fees

The Record recently reported that several amendments to water quality regulations in the Central Valley could become official by next Spring. Some of the proposed changes include monitoring of groundwater beneath crops, requiring farmers to attend educational meetings and draft plans in protecting water quality and managing soil erosion – all of which are expected to double or triple the costs of water quality improvement. Farmers who use Rain Bird drip irrigation systems on their land don't have much cause for worry though, as the particular system waters the roots of crops directly instead of letting water flow through the entire farm. It's with this kind of system that farmers can both save on resources and energy and minimize soil erosion, which can help them adhere to the new water quality standards.

http://www.aquaflo.com/rain-bird-drip-irrigation-system-may-help-farmers-ease-burden-of-higher-water-quality-fees/

Growing Plants One Drop at a Time

Traditional irrigation systems drench entire fields of vegetation in water to sustain growth. Most people encounter irrigation in front lawns and golf courses, which are often drenched by sprinkler systems at preset intervals. However, water is a precious resource that is rapidly becoming a rare commodity.

Irrigation systems are deemed inefficient if they fail to water vegetation at the right times of the day, or waste large amounts of water without nourishing plants and crops. Drip irrigation is the answer to some water woes, if not all. Using drip spouts instead of rotating spray heads, drip irrigation is a more controlled watering system that is being adopted by growers all over the world.

In areas where water is available in limited supplies, drip irrigation systems conserve water by controlling the amount of water that goes into vegetation. Drip irrigation provides water closer to the base of the plants, enabling plant roots to absorb the moisture along with the soil's nutrients.

The drip pipes are installed close to the base of the plants, since the drops of water need to reach the roots as quickly as possible. If the drops will be coming from a certain height, the heat of the sun may evaporate the drops before it can permeate underground. Drip irrigation is a hit with growers in arid places.