Sustainable sprinklers

Compare the industry’s sprinklers and meet new state water regulations.
Hunter pressure regulated sprinkler in use
(Photo: Hunter Industries Inc.)

Purchasing efficient sprinklers is an always changing process. Technology improves, land changes, water conservancy movements grow and states crack down on pressure regulation. Add record-level landscape irrigation demand brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, and buying efficient sprinklers can suddenly feel daunting and unfamiliar.

   Download 2022 Sprinkler Comparison Charts   

Feeling the pressure

One of the biggest changes in sprinklers is this recent movement of replacing traditional sprinkler systems with water pressure-regulated models.

Pressure-regulating sprinklers manage the water pressure flowing from a sprinkler to maintain consistency throughout the overarching system. Pressure-regulating spray body sprinklers make sure the water pressure at the nozzle is either at 30 psi for standard spray nozzles or 40 to 45 psi for rotary spray nozzles, says Jack York, director of product line management at Ewing Irrigation & Landscape Supply, Phoenix, Arizona.

Sprinkler spray heads that run with a pressure above 45 to 50 psi run into fogging issues, where the water is misted into the air and doesn’t reach the intended plant material.

Ewing pressure regulated sprinkler head
States across the nation are introducing water pressure regulation requirements for irrigation spray bodies. Experts in the irrigation industry predict legislation of this nature to increase as water conservancy efforts only grow. (Photo: Ewing Irrigation & Landscape Supply)

By operating nozzles at their ideal pressure, York says sprinklers produce consistent water application for healthier lawns, last longer and use less water than nonpressure-regulating sprinklers in most applications.

“This leads to water bill savings for the property owner, a huge benefit to using these pressure-regulating sprinklers,” York says.

States across the U.S. are enacting pressure regulation requirements for irrigation spray bodies to maximize water-use efficiency. This means states with related legislation prohibit distributors and retailers from selling irrigation equipment that doesn’t have a pressure-regulation system.

“We continue to see states pass laws that require spray sprinkler bodies contain pressure-regulating stems,” says Jessica Case, senior product manager at Rain Bird, Azusa, California. “We know (pressure regulation) saves water; it’s a technology that reduces water pressure and flow with measurable water savings.”

Vermont; California; Colorado; Hawaii; Maine; Massachusetts; Washington and Washington, D.C., have all introduced pressure regulation requirements. Frank Salamone, marketing manager at K-Rain Manufacturing, Riviera Beach, Florida, says additional states like Rhode Island and Maine are set to join that list in 2023.

“This will continue to expand,” Salamone says.

Chris Davey, product manager at The Toro Company, Bloomington, Minnesota, has a similar outlook on the future of pressure regulation.

“We are seeing greatly increased demand for pressure-regulated spray heads,” Davey says. “The increase in demand is due to several state ordinances requiring this feature, and there are more states adopting such ordinances in the following years.”

But even if a homeowner or contractor’s state doesn’t require pressure regulation, Case urges they still do some research and check out its benefits.

“Change can be overwhelming, but it’s also an opportunity to try something new — to see how a product you’ve never used might save you time, water and money,” Case says.


“Change can be overwhelming, but it’s also an opportunity to try something new — to see how a product you’ve never used might save you time, water and money.” — Jessica Case, Rain Bird


Sprinkler type trends

While this increased need for pressure regulation drives sprinkler design trends upward, irrigation contractor purchases are also in the front seat, says Kelsey Jacquard, mechanical irrigation products manager at Hunter Industries, San Marcos, California.

When it comes to trends in sprinklers, the industry is seeing a shift in pop-up heights. Most pop-up sprinkler head heights come in shrub, 2, 3, 4, 6 or 12 inches. Four-inch pop-ups remain the most popular option, Jacquard says, but there’s a shift toward 6-inch pop-ups for both spray bodies and rotors.

“Contractors want taller pop-ups as a benefit to clearing taller turfgrass and to prevent sprinklers from settling over time in the ground,” Jacquard says.

There’s also a continued move toward low precipitation rate, high uniformity nozzles as more states require pressure-regulated spray sprinklers to reduce water flows and optimize system efficiency.

“Low precipitation rate, high-uniformity nozzles help contractors maximize system efficiency and eliminate runoff while allowing more heads per zone for less trenching,” Jacquard says. “Low-precipitation-rate rotary nozzles come in spray nozzle distances to short-radius rotor distances, all with low flows to ensure less pressure loss through the system.”

Rain Bird pressure regulated sprinkler in use
The industry is seeing a shift in sprinkler pop-up heights. While four-inch pop-ups are still the most popular choice, taller options are chosen to clear turfgrass and prevent settling over time. (Photo: Rain Bird Corporation)

Sprinkler types are also seeing new trends, particularly highlighted by a movement toward sprinklers better suited for less surface area, says Brodie Bruner, executive vice president of Weathermatic, Garland, Texas.

“The increasing cost of land is driving developers to create smaller lots sizes, which has a direct impact on the type of sprinklers being used: less rotors and more sprays and drip irrigation,” Bruner says.

On top of sprinkler design and type trends, Bruner says sprinklers are seeing an increased focus on water conservation driven by consumer demand, regulations and rebates. Especially in water-starved areas, Bruner notes a shift is underway in buying behavior from “good enough quality at a low price” to “a higher standard of water use efficiency and performance providing a lower, more sustainable cost of system ownership.”

“Irrigation contractors are more frequently being driven by customer demand for water conservation and building code requirements,” Bruner says. “Therefore, professionals are upgrading traditional sprinkler purchases to more full-featured models with pressure regulation, check valves and low volume drip irrigation and microsprays.”

But as the world witnesses growing water costs and supply and labor shortages, Bruner says that putting in new water-conserving systems can alleviate installation and maintenance prices.

“As inflation is driving up the cost of materials and labor, the increased water use efficiency provided by progressive irrigation contractors is helping add value that justifies increased prices when viewed in context of rising water costs,” Bruner says.

Also impacted by the shortage in supplies and work force is how contractors schedule and go about their work, Case says.

“Increased demand for irrigation products and supply chain challenges generally have irrigation contractors planning projects further in the future,” says Case.


Increased product demand and supply chain challenges mean contractors should plan further in the future.


Homeowner trends

With the onset of COVID-19 in early 2020, Americans found themselves spending a majority of their days in their homes. As a result, home-related projects like updating aging irrigation systems or installing irrigation for the first time skyrocketed.

“COVID-19 significantly increased interest in outdoor gatherings and events, which highlights the role the irrigation industry plays in creating/maintaining communal spaces that bring people together,” Case says.

By doing these home irrigation projects, Case says homeowners became more knowledgeable on the problems plaguing irrigation and landscape.

A promising future

While the pandemic unleashed a bevy of negatives, the irrigation industry found a renewed, possibly long-lasting niche.

“Declared an essential industry, the irrigation industry as a whole continued and continues to work during the pandemic,” Salamone says. “And considering that there is money in the economy being spent on commercial construction and in the housing market, with that comes new installation as well as upgrading and repairing existing systems.”

   Download 2022 Sprinkler Comparison Charts   

McKenna Corson is the digital content editor for Irrigation & Lighting and can be reached at mckennacorson@irrigation.org.

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