Sprinkler and Drip Irrigation Systems¶
What This System Is¶
This section documents the outdoor irrigation systems that supply water to the lawn, garden, and flower beds around the duplex.
There are two essentially unrelated irrigation systems:
- Sprinkler System – services the lawn areas
- Drip Irrigation System – services the garden and flower beds
Although they are physically close in some places, they operate independently and are, therefore, documented separately.
Why This System Matters¶
Much of this system is:
- Underground
- Out of sight
- Difficult to reason about when something goes wrong
Without documentation, it can be hard to answer basic questions such as:
- Where does this water come from?
- Which valve controls this area?
- Is a problem electrical, mechanical, or water-related?
- Is it safe to dig here?
This documentation exists to make those questions answerable.
High-Level Overview¶
Sprinkler System (Lawn)¶
The sprinkler system is designed to water lawn areas.
At a high level, it consists of:
- One or more valve boxes
- Multiple sprinkler zones
- Underground PVC piping
- Sprinkler heads located throughout the lawn
Each zone waters a specific area and is controlled by a dedicated valve.
The sprinkler system is primarily a distribution system: pressurized water is routed to different areas based on which valve is open.
Drip Irrigation System (Garden & Flower Beds)¶
The drip irrigation system is designed to water garden and flower bed areas.
At a high level, it consists of:
- Two 40-gallon rain catchment tanks
- One at the northeast (NE) corner of the building
- One at the northwest (NW) corner of the building
- An underground ½" PEX gravity-feed line connecting the two tanks
- A drip irrigation pump connected to the NW tank
- Drip distribution lines supplying garden and bed areas
Water typically flows:
- Into the NE catchment tank
- By gravity through the underground PEX line
- Into the NW tank
- Through the drip irrigation pump
- Out to the drip irrigation lines
Wells and Supporting Water Sources¶
In addition to the irrigation distribution systems, there are:
- Two well points
- One well pump
The physical locations of these components are documented so that:
- Their existence is known
- They can be identified in the field
- They are not accidentally damaged
Details of how and when they are used are documented in the supporting pages.
Sensors and Automation (Supporting Role)¶
Some parts of the drip irrigation system are monitored by sensors and automation.
These include:
- A water depth sensor in the NW catchment tank
- A pressure sensor on the pressure side of the drip irrigation pump
- An ESPHome controller that reports sensor data to Home Assistant
These components:
- Do not move water themselves
- Exist to provide visibility and protection
They are documented here only in terms of how they support the irrigation system.
What Is Documented Elsewhere¶
This overview intentionally avoids deep detail.
Detailed information is documented in the following sections:
- Sprinkler zones, valve boxes, and PVC routing
- Drip irrigation tank details and plumbing
- Exact sensor models, wiring, and automation logic
- Maintenance and failure scenarios
Use this page to orient yourself, then follow links to the relevant detail pages.
Safety Notes¶
- Underground piping may be shallow and unmarked
- Do not dig without consulting the zone and pipe maps
- Pumps and electrical components may be connected to mains power
If anything is unclear or feels unsafe, stop and seek assistance.