Signs of Spring- Irrigation Start-Up

Over the next week the Grounds Staff will begin initial steps to pressurize the irrigation system for the upcoming season. The irrigation system is one of the key building blocks to maintain healthy and playable turfgrass. A few interesting facts about the irrigation system you may not have known.

• There are over 1600 sprinklers that irrigate roughly 110 acres of turf and landscaped areas
• The water source is the Ohio River distributed via Cincinnati Water Works (CWW)
• The system was installed in 2008 and took about 5 months to complete
• The system can deliver over 1400 gallons per minute- allowing to irrigate during ideal times to allow for healthier turf
• Most irrigation systems utilize pumping systems to maintain flow and pressure. Fortunately, HP does not have to utilize expensive pumps or added electricity because the water pressure from CWW is more then adequate at 160 psi.
• Each sprinkler has a control wire that is linked to a control box and is linked to a central computer
• There are over 20 miles of pipe ranging from 1" to 10"
• Over 100 miles of wire in the ground
• The irrigation system is operated via: tablet, cell phone, computer or manually at each sprinkler
• There are two sets of sprinklers along the edges of the fairways to maximize water effciencey and reduce cost. One sprinkler waters the cool season roughs and the other waters the Zoysia grass. Zoysia grasss requires less water then the cool season Fescue roughs
• All water usage is tracked on a monthly basis to evaluate new processes and technology to reduce water costs long term
• With all the technology, the most important tools to water efficiently and effectively is constant staff monitoring of moisture levels along with constant hand watering to preserve the 90-year green surfaces

A view inside of the backflow house along Erie Avenue

Photo of irrigation computer software- circles on map are sprinklers