There are many uses for lawn and garden sprinklers. These irrigation systems have many uses. Mostly, they are a more convenient way to keep your lawn or garden watered. Manual watering takes time and effort, and sometimes that is more time than some people can spare. These sprinkler systems can also help conserve water, which we will talk about later. First, let’s look at the two main system types.

The first type is the overhead system. This is used mainly for lawns. In this system, the water is dispersed much like it would be with a manual use sprinkler. The water is dispersed above the lawn or groundcover area and subsequently rains down upon the designated area. This system features several parts. There are control valves that regulate the water flow between sprinklers. Also, backflow preventers are important and are often mandated by local codes for installation of one of these. These prevent suction in the pipes from causing the water to go back to its source. Another means of backflow protection is to install anti-siphon valves. You can use an irrigation controller as well, which will allow you to set specific days and times for your system to be active. These can be indoor or outdoor and with varied levels of sophistication. This means each controller is rated as to how many valves it can be connected with, and some systems may require more than one.

Then there are the sprinkler heads. There are three main types with an overhead system. Both rotor and impact rotor sprinklers throw water farther, averaging between 25 and 60 feet. The spray head type of sprinklers can throw between 4 and 15 feet. There are also variations of each of these main types.

The second system delivers water directly to the root system. This system is most often used for watering of trees or shrubs, and is sometimes used for planters which are too narrow for overhead system use. This system comes in two main types of dispersion. The bubbler system provides the higher water flow of the two. These systems usually have a short runtime due to the high water output. These are excellent for plants with deep roots. The other type is the drip system. This choice provides lower water flow, and is designed so that the water literally drips down on or near the root zone of the selected plants. This can often be the most efficient choice for conserving water.

These systems are easily sustained with proper maintenance, and can come at a low cost depending on your particular needs. A DIY system will cost between $50 and $300 with the higher prices being for the more sophisticated systems available. These prices are for those who choose to install it themselves. For those who have contractors install their systems, labor charges will apply. Some advanced systems with timers can cost in the thousands of dollars.

Water Usage
Water usage varies depending upon which system you choose. However, the main determining factor of water usage is the rates in your area and how your water is metered. For example, in Mobile, Alabama the average cost for 1,000 gallons of water is only $2. If you have only one meter, you’ll be charged for 1,000 gallons of sewer as well. This means that the same 1,000 gallons would then cost $6.26. If you have a separate meter just for your irrigation system, the sewer cost can be avoided. Using these figures, it would cost approximately $50 to water your lawn every week for the duration of the summer if you have separate meters. Otherwise, the cost would be closer to $156 total. Separate meters will definitely save you money in the long run.