Irrigation blowout

Happy Thanksgiving!

As the holidays near, they signal the time for the Grounds department to begin preparing for winter. As mentioned last week, we have a list of tasks to be completed before the cold sets in to stay. The biggest component of winterization is blowing out the irrigation system. Protecting the components with which we water the turf grass is of utmost importance. From the sprinklers scattered around the course to the pumps in the pump station near #17 tee, each piece needs to be as free of water as possible.

Blowing out the irrigation system is just as it sounds: we connect an air compressor to the system and pump air through the pipes instead of water. We close the valve that allows water from the pond on #17 to enter the pipes, then systematically begin turning on every sprinkler head on the course. The air forced into the pipes takes the place of the water and blows it out of the sprinklers.  Once a particular sprinkler is no longer spraying water, we turn it off and move to the next one. While this may sound painstakingly slow, the process actually moves quickly. By manipulating what valves are open or closed we can control where excess water is allowed to travel and thus more directly force the water out where we want it to go. Also, prior to turning the air compressor on, allowing water in the pipes to drain out through gravity reduces the amount of water that we actually have to force out with air.

There is no set date by which we always empty the irrigation system. Thanksgiving provides a general time-frame, but the decision, like most other decisions we make, is weather dependent. However, the weather simply getting cold for a few nights does not necessarily mean the irrigation system is at risk. For example, this year we have had some near-record lows in the two weeks leading up to thanksgiving yet, we have not blown the irrigation system out. Although the air temperature is well below freezing, and the upper half to one inch of ground may freeze, this freeze is nowhere near the irrigation pipes in the ground. The cold has to establish itself for an extended period of time and begin to freeze the ground down deeper before we are concerned that it may damage the irrigation system. Just like many other jobs, we have to wait for the right time.

Blowing the system out too early or too late can both lead to problems. If the irrigation system is off and the weather turns relatively warm and dry, we can be left scrambling trying to get water on turf grass. Filling up a tank at the shop and driving it out on the course would be one way to get water out when the system is no longer active. This is very slow and inefficient. So turning the water off too early can lead to issues. Similarly, waiting too long to blow out the system can lead to many problems as well. If the system is not drained before the long extended cold arrives, broken pipes, sprinklers and other components is very likely. This is very costly and would require valuable labor in the spring to fix.

Because the irrigation system is large and extremely valuable, taking precautions for winter is a must. Putting it to bed properly ensures that when spring arrives, we are ready to water without any delay.

As a side note, starting December 1^st, the weekly blog will be reduced to monthly for December, January, and February. While work never stops for the Grounds Department, weekly changes and new topics are fewer.

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org