I would like to know of a reputable and dependable company/person to
install a residential irrigation system. I live in the Wake Forest
area. Do you have any tips/suggestions about what to ask and look for
when talking to the potential contractors?

I have also heard about having a second water meter for the sprinkler
system. What are the benefits of having one? Is it worth having one
installed?

Thanks for your help.

John F

It's important to get credentials, especially if you also hire the
irrigation contractor to install your backflow (you must be a licensed
plumber and also certified to test it by water purveyor.)

He is a good url for questions to ask:
http://www.irrigation.org/consumer_info.asp Be sure to check the Consumer
Bill of Rights for Turf/Landscape document. Don't confuse membership in an
association, such as Carolina Irrigation Association or NC Irrigation
Society, with true credentials such as IA's CIC, CID program.

Another good document, if you have a little engineering side to you, is Best
Management Practices (BMPs), Practice Guidelines (PGs), and Appendix A & B .
Check out this url: http://www.irrigation.org/about_wtrmgmt_bmp.htm This
file is in pdf format and is extensive, particularly the appendices.

If you need any large boring or have a speciallized application, call me : )

--
Baine Carruthers, CID, CIC, CLIA
BCHS
http://www.irrpro.com
(704) 913-3476
(803) 222-2821

"John F" wrote in message
om...
I would like to know of a reputable and dependable company/person to
install a residential irrigation system. I live in the Wake Forest
area. Do you have any tips/suggestions about what to ask and look for
when talking to the potential contractors?

I have also heard about having a second water meter for the sprinkler
system. What are the benefits of having one? Is it worth having one
installed?

Thanks for your help.

John F

The only real reason for getting a second water meter is cost. If you use a
second meter, then you won't be charged the sewer charge. However, be
aware, Durham doubled the water price on sprinkler water this summer and
thus made it much less attractive to have a meter installed (still a
savings, but not nearly as much).

Doc Muhlbaier

"John F" wrote in message
om...
I would like to know of a reputable and dependable company/person to
install a residential irrigation system. I live in the Wake Forest
area. Do you have any tips/suggestions about what to ask and look for
when talking to the potential contractors?

I have also heard about having a second water meter for the sprinkler
system. What are the benefits of having one? Is it worth having one
installed?

Thanks for your help.

John F

If one is going to stay put for a couple of years and doesn't live in a
patio home, it will generally payoff in the long run. You just have to put
some figures together.

Our watering season for cool season turf is about 8 months in which you
could apply 20"+ of water. There are 27,154 gallons per acre inch, so
multiply your area being watered by this figure, 20", to get a yearly
estimate. Divide this figure by 748 to convert to ccf if that's how you are
billed. If you're on a tiered rate it gets a little more challenging to get
a figure. I have a spreadsheet for any gurus out there.

27,154 * 20" = 543,080
543,080 * .75 (3/4 of acre being watered) = 407,310 gallons
407,310 / 748 = 544 ccf
544 * $1.90 (cost per ccf without sewer) = $1034.00 estimated annual cost
without sewer
544 * $3.90 (cost per ccf with sewer) = $2122.00 estimated annual cost with
sewer
$2122 - $1034 = $1088.00 estimated savings per year
If a new 3/4" meter is $1200 then it could take less than 2 years to realize
a savings.

This is an estimate only, remember there are many other factors to consider.
Good water management, proper irrigation system uniformity, dependable Et or
weather data, etc. There may be other factors to consider with new meter
depending upon your local water purveyor. Take your time and get some good
information.

--
Baine

"Doc Muhlbaier" wrote in message
...
The only real reason for getting a second water meter is cost. If you use
a
second meter, then you won't be charged the sewer charge. However, be
aware, Durham doubled the water price on sprinkler water this summer and
thus made it much less attractive to have a meter installed (still a
savings, but not nearly as much).

Doc Muhlbaier

"John F" wrote in message
om...
I would like to know of a reputable and dependable company/person to
install a residential irrigation system. I live in the Wake Forest
area. Do you have any tips/suggestions about what to ask and look for
when talking to the potential contractors?

I have also heard about having a second water meter for the sprinkler
system. What are the benefits of having one? Is it worth having one
installed?

Thanks for your help.

John F

:-O

forget the second meter, completely renovate the lawn and plant a warm
season grass!!



gena

27,154 * 20" = 543,080
543,080 * .75 (3/4 of acre being watered) = 407,310 gallons

Tall fescue is pretty drought tolerant, warm season turfgrass water use,
compared to tall fescue, will only save about 20% water. If one wants to
conserve water, they should forget about the turf!

--
Baine

"Gena" wrote in message
ink.net...
:-O

forget the second meter, completely renovate the lawn and plant a warm
season grass!!



gena

27,154 * 20" = 543,080
543,080 * .75 (3/4 of acre being watered) = 407,310 gallons

we don't water lawn areas ever. we aerated and then seeded one of the
hybrid bermudas and it's taken over almost everything in it's path in about
2 years, only being fertilized where the chickens and tukeys 'go'

it seems to do just fine, doesn't look like a golf course, but that's ok,
it's just our yard, and we use it for croquet

gena

"Baine Carruthers" wrote
Tall fescue is pretty drought tolerant, warm season turfgrass water use,
compared to tall fescue, will only save about 20% water. If one wants to
conserve water, they should forget about the turf!

--
Baine

"Gena" wrote

:-O

forget the second meter, completely renovate the lawn and plant a warm
season grass!!



gena

27,154 * 20" = 543,080
543,080 * .75 (3/4 of acre being watered) = 407,310 gallons