Irrigation system charged/filled

Assistant Mike spent the last 2 days charging the irrigation system.  He had to put part of the pump station back together again from the recommendation of what should be removed and cleaned before the onset of winter when the station was shut down.  

The irrigation lines were filled all day yesterday and throughout the night by our jockey pump which is a small pump that produces a low volume of water but has the capacity to handle an irrigation hose or can adjust the pressure back to our system set point without requiring the large irrigation pumps to start.  It saves energy and reduces wear and tear on the system.  We allowed air to purge out of the system through a quick coupler and the key that is inserted into the coupler allowing water and or air to release from the system.  Our greens have 2 couplers and our tees have an additional coupler.  We also have a couple of drain outlets that flow into our lakes that help us to drain down our system in the fall  and releases air pressure which can build up when you fill the system in the spring.  Our system is designed to run at a water pressure of 130 psi.  Air that is trapped in the system and not removed systematically as the lines fill with water can lead to air pressures high enough to damage sprinkler heads and or our irrigation pipe.   

As the system comes up to 50-60 psi, heads are turned on manually through the green pedestals that you see out on the golf course at various places.  Every head is wired into one of these boxes that is shared between 1-2 holes that are in proximity to one another.  This is how the system is finally brought back on line.   

The system is being turned on this early to help us with the aeration program.  The moisture helps to settle down the sand.  It also allows nutrient material that we apply to begin the process of breaking down and incorporating into the green profile.  Also, the greens could dry out if it became windy and warm.  We do not want the greens to be set back as they begin to heal from the aeration program. 

Irrigation controllers between holes # 1 and #18. 

Irrigation heads running between 2 tee and 2 fairway

A head along 2 cart path.  You can see the difference in the stream coming out from the picture above compared to the air/water mixture coming out of the head below.