SportsTurf provides current, practical and technical content on issues relevant to sports turf managers, including facilities managers. Most readers are athletic field managers from the professional level through parks and recreation, universities.
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/356087
appear over time, like inadequate pressure or loosening packing in your pump sta- tion. Data hoarDing anD Documentation An irrigation audit can be simple or exhausting. You can evaluate individual zones for distribution uniformity, assess specific areas in your facility for trouble spots or appraise the entire system top to bottom. Irrigation consultant Brian Vinchesi advises identifying a specific goal or goals before commencing an irrigation audit. "It's good to know what you're hoping to accomplish with your system before you get started," he says. "Are you considering add- ing a new water source? Are you facing new watering restrictions on how much water you can use or the hours you can use it? Are you adding zones or fields? Are you looking for significant water savings?" "There are numerous considerations," adds Vinchesi, president of Irrigation Consulting, Inc., in Pepperell, MA. "Sites change over time. More entities tap into your water source, which can affect avail- able pressure and water quality. Fields might be added or eliminated. Safety concerns in sports turf facilities have changed over time. It's all part of the mix and should be evalu- ated and documented." You have to be in the field to know your how well your program is performing. However, desk duties are part of the game. In the office, gather previous years' water reports, architectural blueprints, irrigation design plans, as-built drawings, water sched- uling programs, water quality reports and other useful data used to manage water and other resources. And, before you step onto the field, Vinchesi strongly recommends adding a camera to your toolbox. With your history and documentation secured, it's time to get outside, look things over and take down some notes and num- bers. "Beyond equipment issues, which must be recorded, your best opportunities to improve water use are with management, like irrigation scheduling and uniformity," points out American Society of Irrigation Consultants President Ivy Munion, with ISC Group, Inc., in Livermore, CA. Look at your facility as a whole. Document turf wear, hot spots, soupy areas, compaction, drainage and the like. Ideally, your system is performing at the designed volume, flow and pressure. Your original irrigation plans will provide those numbers. Take a pressure reading at the water source. Inspect your cross-connec- tions, master valve(s), flow sensors, pump station(s) and smart technology, looking and listening for smooth, proper cycling and operation. Check your metering devices, looking for the spinning leak dial. "In a multiple field complex, you need to really observe how everything interacts," Vinchesi www.stma.org August 2014 | SportsTurf 31 Simple sprinkler audit inspection checklist • Check the coverage of full- and part-circle heads, ensuring that the sprinkler is adjusted to cover only the portion of the facility it is intended to. • Check the radius of throw and ensure that the head is rotating completely. Check disbursement at each nozzle, ensuring that the orifice is not clogged, obstructed or excessively worn. Replace nozzles that appear worn, as they may alter flow rates, precipitation rates and coverage. • Use a pitot tube to check nozzle-discharge pressure. Log all data for future reference. If several heads in a zone become weak or inoperative, there may be debris in the valve or a breach in the piping. • Inspect the sprinkler housing for damage or debris. • Check your low sprinkler heads for drainage.