It’s called an invisible leak and, in this situation, you or your groundskeeper may instinctively turn off the water supply to prevent further water waste or cost.
In theory, this makes perfect sense – you’re cutting the problem at the source and preventing further damage. Signs such as overly sodden turf at the leak area, or overly dry, unirrigated turf, water shooting up in the air rather than in the expected pattern or water in full flow over a curb could all be signs that something's amiss.
A quick-fix strategy such as turning off the water supply (whether entirely or zonally) does have obvious drawbacks, however:
- Some areas will remain unwatered, resulting in inconsistent coverage (some over and some under-watered) across the whole field and, eventually, less attractive and less healthy turf; and
- The root of the problem – the invisible leak – hasn’t been found or fixed. And when the water is turned back on, it may just continue where it left off.
But what if there was something available to help solve this problem? What if there was a system that offered visualization; giving you the opportunity to investigate anything unusual before it potentially becomes a big problem?
Enter Smart Irrigation!
If you’re not already familiar, smart irrigation systems are a neat way to tailor watering schedules and meet specific landscape needs today and they play a major role in preventative maintenance.
Making Your Job Far Easier
So, let’s find out how smart irrigation systems can take a load off when it comes to invisible leaks:
Smart technology drastically improves outdoor water use efficiencies.
It’ll make your job easier because more efficient water use = less chance of leaks. That means less time spent chasing unknown causes of symptoms.
Intelligent irrigation systems offer 24-hour monitoring technology and real-time, actionable data.
It’ll make your job easier because you don’t need to be on-site all the time because the *IoT-enabled irrigation system will supervise on your behalf. And if you do want to check out what’s happening on-site and in any irrigation zone? Visualization is available 24/7 via your computer or mobile device, so you get visibility and control for each individual zone. (An example of this is a Flowguard Point of Connection which enables irrigation activity monitoring for specific zones). *For more information on the Internet of Things, check out the Wiki page on the IoT here.
IoT support means controllers can detect problems, such as leaks.
It’ll make your job easier because the system will send an alert to your computer or mobile device, allowing you to quickly take action (remotely if needed) to minimise potentially catastrophic outcomes. So, even if the leak occurs in the middle of the night, at a weekend or during holidays, you can visualize the situation and address it immediately.
The smart system can use its data to troubleshoot leaks on your behalf and help your decision-making process.
It’ll make your job easier because you’ll discover irrigation system leaks that’ll lead to improvements and eventual water savings. And when it comes to fixing the leak and preventing further occurrences, you don’t have to go it alone – thanks IoT!
Are you looking for help in assessing the fitness of your irrigation system but not sure where to start? Do you suspect there may be leaks but can't be certain where? Contact the Hoover team to arrange a no-obligation chat with one of our irrigation experts.
