Irrigation maintenance 101

By Emma Peterson. 

Routine care is key to protecting water resources and irrigation performance. 

Irrigation is a water management practice that goes back thousands of years. Today, you can find irrigation systems all across the world used for everything from agricultural development to residential homes and golf courses.  

When irrigation systems are designed well, they “encourage plant growth while minimizing salt imbalances, leaf burn, soil erosion and water loss.” However, if mismanaged, irrigation systems can cause more issues than they solve. The key to avoiding mismanagement of irrigation systems is maintenance. The U.S. Golf Association (USGA) puts it simply, “Just like there are equipment technicians on staff to work on specialized golf course mowers, there must be staff time dedicated to caring for the vast and complex irrigation system and its components.” 

The importance of maintenance 

Irrigation is too often out of sight, out of mind for non-outdoor professionals. As USGA put it, “Often the mindset is: ‘If it is not broken, don’t fix it.’ It can also be difficult to identify signs of an irrigation problem until a major failure occurs, and each system has its own nuances that take time to learn.” 

However, taking time to learn and care for a system is well-worth it. Without proper maintenance, every irrigation system, no matter how high-tech or well-designed it is, will begin to face issues. Cory Broad, agronomic sales manager at Avid Water and a certified crop advisor and irrigation designer, explained, “Properly maintaining irrigation systems is key to avoiding future breakdowns and maintaining irrigation efficiency. Further, properly maintaining irrigation lines, growers can ensure efficient water delivery, avoid system blockages and support efforts to replenish groundwater.” 

Tips of maintaining an irrigation system 

So, what does maintenance look like for an irrigation system? In general, you will want to thoroughly inspect the entire irrigation system once a year. You should check for leaks and evaluate the general water pressure of the system. This can help you identify areas where issues might be cropping up. If you see something amiss, it’s time to investigate further. Here are some of the common maintenance considerations for different components:  

• Sprinklers: These can fall out of alignment over time. You want to check these to make sure they are level, rotating properly, throwing water at the correct angle and not leaking.  
• Nozzles: Nozzles should generally be replaced every five to eight years as they wear down due to friction caused by the water pressure in the irrigation system. 
• Valves: Common valve issues include seeping heads, stuck on heads or a head that doesn’t activate properly. These can all lead to inefficiencies and damaged property. In particular, it is important to open and close drainage valves as part of your annual maintenance. 
• Pumps: These are what pressurize irrigation systems and can require maintenance for issues like overheating and leaking.  
• Water lines: Often underground, these are the pipes that transport water from pumps to sprinklers. This is where checking water pressure can be crucial, as the easiest way to tell if something is wrong with a line is by measuring a pressure loss or finding a visibly wet area.  
• Filters: These collect debris and need to be inspected and cleaned frequently to avoid build up and damage. 
• Control system: A lot of modern irrigation systems are automated or utilize timers. It is important to check that these are operating properly, updated for new software and optimized for the weather patterns of the area. 

By adjusting and fixing these issues, you can make sure that the irrigation system is distributing water evenly and effectively. Cory compared the need for irrigation maintenance to the maintenance of a car, sharing, “If you have not changed your oil and have gone to New York and back 20 times — you’re going to have a problem.”