32 SportsTurf | March 2014 www.sportsturfonline.com
ne of the many reasons field owners
embrace the idea of synthetic turf is the fact that
it will save on water bills since it doesn't need ir-
rigation.
This is true; the field will stay green despite
not having a regular drink. However, it's a rare synthetic field
that doesn't need irrigation. And while synthetic turf does not
need to be watered in the same way natural grass does, an irri-
gation system is essential. It helps to clean the field, settle the
infill and reduce static electricity. It also helps reduce the much
complained-about "heat island" effect common to synthetic
fields in hot weather.
So while we can all agree that irrigation systems help fields
function more efficiently, the question becomes this: what can
be done to help irrigation systems themselves function more
efficiently?
The good news: it's not all that complicated, really. Like all
other aspects of a sports facility, an irrigation system will work
as well as it is designed to, as long as it is maintained well and
checked often. Taking a step back from this point, it's essential
to remember that the better designed the system, the less likely
Irrigation & Drainage | By Helen Sprecher
Irrigation systems:
care and maintenance
Photo
courtesy
of
GMB
Architecture
+
Engineering,
Holland,
MI
O
The investment of money on the front
end to use the services of a quality
professional such as a Certified Irrigation
Designer can mean savings in the
efficiency and integrity of a system.
information is available at
www.irrigation.org
WWW
