Existing Problem: Water Delivery System Older than 15 Years

The typical traveler irrigation system has a 1,000 ft hose and is operated at 80 psi at the gun. The system is operated about 2,000 ft from the water supply. Many systems have been in operation more than 15 years and use portable, above ground, aluminum pipe water delivery system. The aluminum pipe is typically 20 ft lengths with worn or decayed rubber gaskets repairs in the flexible hose that leak.

Water Conserving Practice: Repaired water delivery system

Water conservation options range from minor repairs to the water delivery system such as replace gaskets and/or fitting to more costly repairs including replacement of pipe and/or hoses.

¹Potential No. of Irrigation Systems Affected	1600
Estimated Water Savings (%)	10 (0 to 20)
²Average Year Water Savings (million gal.)	2585
³Dry Year Water Savings (million gal.)	4431
Est. Cost of Full Implementation on Avg. System ($, 1998)	$3,500
Statewide Costs for Full Implementation ($, 1998)	$5,600,000
Cost / Unit of Water Saved in Average Year ($, 1998 / million gal.)	$2,166

Water conservation will range from none to over 20 percent with smaller savings associated with less severe leakage. Simply replacing gaskets in 20 foot aluminum mainline pipe (at a cost of $5/gasket, $500 total for 2,000 ft system) could save about 5 percent on many older systems. In some cases, total replacement of the aluminum pipeline with buried PVC would equate to savings of up to 20 percent, but the cost of this repair could approach $6,000 (2,000 ft X $3/ft). On very old systems, the flexible hose should be replaced which could also approach $6,000.

An estimated 1,600 traveler systems would benefit from major maintenance to repair the water delivery system (average water savings of about 10%). If all potential systems were repaired, the total annual water savings in an average year would be 2585 million gallons. In a dry year, water savings would approach about 4430 million gallons. The average cost of these repairs is estimated at $3,500 per system. The statewide costs for full implementation are about $5.6 million. The cost benefit ration is about $2,166 per million gallons saved.

Source: Evans, R.O., K.A. Harrison, J.E. Hook, C.V. Privette, W.I. Segars, W.B. Smith, D.L. Thomas, and A.W. Tyson. 1998. Irrigation conservation practices appropriate for the Southeastern United States. D.L. Thomas (ed.) Geologic Survey Project Report No. 32. Georgia Geologic Survey, Georgia Department Of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division, Atlanta, GA 30334. 43p.