Santa Rosa Sprinkler & Drip Irrigation Systems Repair

February 2012
16th-19th. Fair at first, then stormy.
24th-29th. Milder, then some rain, or (over higher terrain) snow, then clearing, colder conditions.

March 2012
1st-3rd. Stormy conditions. “Squally” California. (had to look up squally: “brief periods of violent wind or rain”)
8th-11th. Fair at first, then windy, wet.
12th-15th. Fair, until a major Pacific storm system moves in.
28th-31st. Once again, stormy weather spreads east from the Pacific.

April 2012
4th-7th. Fair at first, then scattered showers.
8th-11th. Dry, clear weather turns stormy.

Irrigation Reccomendations:

Supplement mid March, then turn the system off until mid April, when the irrigation season begins.  Check all sprinklers and repair drip lines.  Clean out valves and filters, install new battery in timer, write date on it with a permanent pen or sharpie.

Happy Gardening!

I participated in the first of these and learned everything needed to comply with the “no permit needed” greywater irrigation system within the city limits of Santa Rosa.  They will actually give you $75 toward the parts you need to get your system installed!  They offer tons of after the class support, and you can always call or email me with questions.

Here’s the the link to the class flyer:

http://ci.santa-rosa.ca.us/SiteCollectionImages/GrayWaterWorkshopflyer6-11.pdf

The class is free to anyone who wants to attend, snacks included, not just for Santa Rosa residents, but residents will get the $75 parts voucher.

The Urban Farmer irrigation supply Store partnering with SFPUC

New! Laundry-to-Landscape Graywater Pilot Program

Be part of this pioneering study! (already in place in many CA counties)

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), with the help of The Urban Farmers Store, is conducting a pilot study of laundry-to-landscape graywater systems in San Francisco.  Residents of a single-family home or a two-unit residential building to join the greywater program. Approved participants will receive a discounted kit, a free workshop and a comprehensive guidance manual. All you need is a clothes washer, a flat or down-sloping garden and a commitment to saving water!

Participation in the SFPUC program includes:

- A free workshop and a copy of the San Francisco Graywater Design Manual for Outdoor Irrigation,

- a step-by-step manual for DIY do-it-yourselfers. No two graywater installations will be exactly alike as each system will vary depending on the sites soil type, washing machine type, and number of laundry loads. Gather as much information about your site before attending a workshop.  Pictures of your laundry plumbing help!

- A $95 subsidy toward the purchase of a $100 L2L kit for participants who meet all program requirements. The kit includes basic components to divert washing machine discharge water for landscape irrigation use.

- Additional pipe, tubing and landscape mulch basins will be required to complete your greywater system.

For more information about the L2L kit and our new pilot program, contact:

The Urban Farmer Store at (415) 661-2204 or visit the SFPUC website for more information-

Download Application Form-Please fill it out, attach the completed form with the two required photos, and e-mail it to info@urbanfarmerstore.com

If you want help installing/consulting on your greywater/water saving system, contact Damon 707-849-3885

Time to see what works and what needs fixing this season. With Santa Rosa Sprinkler and drip systems, Irrigation season startup includes:
• Turn on each valve individually to ensure working, non-leaking operation
• Inspect each zone for breaks/leaks/adjustments
• Unclog sprinkler nozzles
• Replace sprinklers and drip emitters/lines/connections as needed
• Check each station from irrigation control box/timer/clock
• Set stations appropriately for maximum water use per irrigation zone depending on plant material.

If you have 6 stations or less this process can take an experienced professional up to an hour. With 12 or more stations on multiple timers it will take longer.

Lately I’ve been enjoying plant ID and consulting in napa, graton/Sebastopol, and getting referred from neighbor to neighbor to neighbor in Santa Rosa. Haven’t been to Novato yet this year but I know I’ll enjoy it when it happens.

Enjoying the warm sunshine at last (that was a lot of rain this March!)
Damon

March 4, 2011 The City of Santa Rosa put on a greywater workshop to help people learn about installing allowable non-permit greywater irrigation systems in the city limits and included a $75 parts voucher.

I installed a system for a customer and took pictures to document the process.

The pictures are on flickr.com and I’m trying to figure out how to show them here.  Stay tuned!