Be informed!

Know your rights when you hire a contractor or company to install your irrigation system.  The Irrigation Consumer Bill of Rights covers all areas.
 

    Discuss these items with your irrigation contractor/designer before purchasing your irrigation system. The discussion will help you to make wiser selections of design options and to appreciate the obligation of both yourself and the contractor/designer in creating your irrigation system.

Contractor/Designer Qualifications

    Does the contractor and his employees have the necessary license and insurance?
    Is the contractor able to secure bonding?
    What are the contractor/designer credentials (formal training, references,
    contractor/designer certification by the Irrigation Association)?
    Does the contractor/designer belong to the local or national Irrigation Association
    and abide by their standards?

Design/Installation Features (General)

    What is the life expectancy of system components?
    What safety features have been included?
        1.Backflow
        2.Master valve
    What are the options for future upgrades?
        1.Adding new zones
        2.Extra wiring
    Does the system meet all electrical and plumbing codes?
 

Specific Operating/Design Parameters

    What will be the distribution uniformity on the irrigated areas? Is water distributed
    evenly?
        1.Matched precipitation sprinkler heads
        2.Head-to-head coverage
        3.Sprinkler operating pressure
        4.Slopes
        5.Wind considerations
    Does the system provide climate control, rain stop, moisture sensors?
    Water requirements?
        1.What is the precipitation rate (quantity of water applied per hour) of the sprinkler
        system zones?
        2.What is the anticipated quantity and cost of water used per year?
        3.What is the recommended programming for the sprinkler system used?
 

Estimate

    What does the estimate include?
        1.Price of system including labor, material, all local taxes and permits
        2.Sprinkler system design, specifications, parts list, cut sheets, guarantees
        3.Cost of design, if any

Warranties

    Who provides equipment installation, start-up and adjustment, winterization?
    What are the warranties on individual components and system design performance?
    Who is providing warranties and what do the warranties cover and exclude?
    Are the providers financially capable of standing behind their warranties?
    What is the availability of replacement parts?
    Does the contractor provide operating instructions to the consumer?
 

Pumping Supplement

Energy Consumption

    Is it possible to pump all water during off-peak hours?
    What are the pump and motor/engine efficiencies?
    Are you provided with a pump curve showing the GPM and pressure?
    What is the sensitivity of pump flow rates to well water level changes?
    What is the approximate energy cost per year for pumping?

Filtration

    Is filtration necessary, and if so, what type is provided?

Chemical Injection

    Are locally required backflow prevention and safety devices provided?
    What is the capacity of the injector, in gallons per hour?
    Can the equipment inject both fertilizers and other chemicals?

 Flow Meter

    Does it measure both flow rate (GPM) and volume (acre-feet) applied?
    Does installation follow the manufacturer's recommendations with regard to lengths
    of straight pipe, pipe diameter, and straightening vanes?

 Pressure, Air, and Flushing

    Are there adequate continuous air vents, vacuum relief valves, and flushouts?
    What are the number, type, and size of pressure relief valves?
    Is the pressure rating of all system components sufficiently high for the
    anticipated water temperature, surge pressures, and normal pressures?