•
Is any sprinkler head allowing water to flow out (rather than
spraying)?
• Is water being sprayed in the direction you intend? (In other
words, the only place water should be falling is on the playing sur-
face; it should not spray the dugout, spectator stands, areas out-
side the fence and so forth). Remember that water falling on other
areas is (a) going to waste, and (b) may ultimately damage or wa-
terlog those other areas if they don't have sufficient drainage sys-
tems. (And that's a story for another time).
Take the time to readjust, repair or replace any damaged ele-
ments in the irrigation system. If unsure of any of the workings,
contact the designer or builder of the original system, who can
provide information.
The efficiency of an irrigation system is irrevocably tied to the
drainage system beneath the field. So once the irrigation system
has been given its check-up, take the time to make sure it's work-
ing well with the drainage system. Irrigate the field heavily (or, if
the weather is right, you can use a heavy rain as your yardstick. Ei-
ther is fine; what you're looking for is a good soak to help you test
the drains).
Once the field is saturated, carefully inspect the surface to en-
sure it drains as quickly as expected and there are no areas where
water
collects or where the field does not drain. If you spot stand-
ing water, check how deep it is. Does this area drain more slowly,
or not at all? Take pictures of the problem and contact your field
builder, who can help you determine what is wrong. It may take a
simple fix; it may be something more complex. One thing is for
certain, however: whatever is wrong is not going to remedy itself,
and will require some kind of assistance.
Keeping a field performing at its optimum level means put-
ting in the extra time to make it work that way. No facility
thrives on neglect and a field with excellent irrigation and
drainage will remain playable, comfortable and hassle-free for
years to come.
n
Mary Helen Sprecher is a free lance writer who wrote this article
on behalf of the American Sports Builders Association. ASBA is a
non-profit association helping designers, builders, owners, operators
and users understand quality athletic facility construction. ASBA
publishes Sports Fields: A Construction and Maintenance Manual,
a comprehensive guide to the design, construction and maintenance of
sports fields. The book is available for purchase either in hard copy or
in electronic form. Information is available at
www.sportsbuilders.org.
March 2014 | SportsTurf 35 www.stma.org
