SPRINKLER TALK FORUM - You Got Questions, We've Got Answers

Hi, This is my first post, so I hope I put this in the right place.

My yard is pretty big, almost 1/2 acre
I want to install a sprinkler system so I have been gathering some information

I am on city water and have a 1 inch meter. I dug down to the main line and it is 1 inch too. PVC.

I measured the water pressure at my hose spigot and I was surprised to see that the gauge said I have 40 PSI. Since Im on city water, that seems real low to me. its about 70 feet from the meter to the hose spigot.
I thought maybe the gauge is bad so I went to the hardware store and got another and It also says I only have 40 PSI.
I still didn't believe it so went to the neighbors house and they also have 40 psi at the hose spigot.

I measured several times all through the day today and it never changed any measurable amount.

At 40 PSI, I really cant see installing so many zones to make it work. Or I guess installing some real big pipes to decrease the losses.

So, I guess my question is this. Is there some sort of pump or something that could boost the water pressure?

Funny thing about this whole thing is, the wife dug out our home inspeciton from 4 yrs ago and the inspector noted the water pressure at 60-70. can it go down that much? I dont have any leaks anywhere. no new construction within a couple of miles of me.

Im really at a loss, no pun intended, on what the best option is, or to just scrap the idea.

thanks

Ive been checking the gauge all week during mornings evenings and nights. The lowest reading I have seen is 38, the highest is about 42.
No new construction anywhere even close to me. I called the water department an found out they have regulated the water pressure in my area of town to about 45 last year with plans to drop it a bit more in January.

Given the pressure I have now, and the amount of yard to water, and a future decrease in pressure, it looks like my design will need a booster pump. Looks like I have a lot of learning to do about those things.

Im in East Texas in a town called Longview.

My house is on the highest part of the lot, and the ground slopes away slightly from the house on all 4 sides. Elevation change from the house to the meter is about a foot I would say. 15 inches at the most. Distance is about 60 feet. 15 feet from meter to the road.

just as a fyi, there is not very good soil here. Its mostly red clay and water dont sink in quick, so I think light water application would be best for me. So I was looking at the rainbird and hunter rotary sprays that have a decent radius but low precipitation rate. from what Ive read about them, they work best from 35 - 40 psi. for those, I just couldnt tolerate hardly any loss at all.

I will keep figuring it out though and looking at different sprinklers to and see what I can come up with. This is getting interesting for me and Im liking learning new stuff along with the challenge.

hi Pass1,

yup. Its interesting. I actually helped a friend of mine for the last month or so install his sprinkler. His works great by the way. First time for both of us. That's what got me on the kick of installing myself one.

As it turns out he has a lot more pressure than I do, I think because he lives real close to the water tower and is in a relatively new neighborhood and has better infrastructure.

I didnt quite fully understand the whole pressure loss deal (probably still fully dont) which is why I was kind of shocked when mine is about 40 and he has about 60. I have learned a lot about this in the last week or so. - I even measured from my house to the nearest water tower, and the elevation difference too! Im just that way, Im the kind of guy that I need to actually understand what is going on.

I think the wife is about put out with me too because of it!