Why Use HDPE Pipes for Irrigation Systems?

Irrigation systems, which have been in existence for hundreds of years, continue to be a crucial part of successful agricultural and plant cultivation practices across the globe.

Irrigation systems play a crucial role in agricultural crop growth and landscape maintenance in the following ways:

• Providing water to crops and lands when there is a lack of or no rainfall.

When crops and other edible plants are not watered, it can lead to harvest failure and food shortage. This is why irrigation is crucial in farms and other agricultural lands that do not get sufficient rainfall.

• Increasing the amount of cultivable or agriculture-friendly land.

Some places are naturally dry due to their location and topography. Irrigation systems are responsible for turning these areas into cultivable lands.

Additionally, irrigation systems have helped farmers get more from fallow lands, which are usually left idle after harvest long before the next cultivation season.

• Facilitating multiple cropping annually.

In countries with specific months of rainfall, farmers have difficulty growing and harvesting crops several times throughout the year due to insufficient natural water supply. With an irrigation system, farmers can cultivate crops during the dry parts of the year.

Conversely, the continuous rainfall during a particular period can also spoil crop production, preventing farmers from being more productive. A good irrigation system makes it possible to grow crops during the wet parts of the year.

• Enable the healthy growth of plants.

All plants need water to survive. An irrigation system, whether in an agricultural or landscaped commercial or residential property, ensures all foliage is hydrated and stays healthy.

Additionally, plants can absorb more nutrients from irrigated soil.  Irrigation, therefore, is essential for the general growth of all vegetation.

• Maintain the appeal and lushness of lawns, gardens, and landscapes.

In residential and commercial lawns and landscaped areas, an irrigation system ensures all plants, including the grass, are protected from inefficient watering and drought.

A well-designed sprinkler system ensures that all plants get the proper amount of water that prevents them from drying out and dying. As a result, the foliage stays healthy and thrive. The landscape looks lush and lovely as well.

On the other hand, excessive watering can also be harmful to the soil, damage plants, and cause the germination of weeds.  

A well-designed and installed irrigation system can help control the amount of water the lawn or garden receives, ensuring plants get the right level of hydration.

An irrigation system makes all these possible while allowing agricultural, commercial, and residential landowners to save time, money, and water.

An Overview of Irrigation Systems

Irrigation systems are staples in agricultural lands and commercial and residential landscapes. Although this feature has the same function of providing water to soils and plants for both places, they have different components and installation methods.

Agricultural irrigation systems have more components, including:

• Pump
• Filter
• Backflow prevention
• Pressure regulator
• Distribution lines or pipes
• Injector

This type of irrigation system also requires a water source, such as a well, river, or irrigation pond or ditch.

On the other hand, an irrigation or sprinkler system for lawns is made up of fewer components. Its major parts are the sprinkler heads, pipes and risers, control valves, and the automatic timer.

Best Pipe Materials for Irrigation Systems

Pipes are one of the common parts of irrigation systems used in both agricultural lands and lawns.

For these irrigation systems, high-density polyethylene or HDPE pipes for water supply is the recommended component.

This is because pipes made of HDPE pipes offer more advantages, which include:

1. Better flexibility

HDPE pipes have a bend radius of 25 times their thickness. They can be twisted or manipulated with no negative impact on the pipe.

The flexibility of HDPE tubing eliminates the fittings and thrust blocks needed for their installation. This also lowers the likelihood of mainline breaks.

2. Lower tendency of piping fatigue

Piping fatigue, which is a problem common in conventional pipes, occurs when the tube and fittings expand and contract whenever water surges through them. This can cause the PVC to weaken over time.

This is an issue that rarely occurs in HDPE pipes. They can contract to their original size without deteriorating.

The reduced tendency for piping fatigue also means HDPE pipes have longer lifespans: they can last for over 50 years.  

3. Reduced leakage probability

HDPE fittings, valves, and pipes are joined and installed using the butt-fusion technique. Because of this, all parts become one massive unit, which can eliminate leaky joints.

An irrigation system with HDPE pipes and fittings is also more water and energy-efficient since it does away with pump cycling to maintain pressurization.

4. Freeze-free pipes

During winter, conventional irrigation system pipes have to be drained to prevent them from freezing and breaking. This is a time-consuming and stressful job.

Failing to do this can mean complicated and costly repairs or the replacement of frozen pipes.

HDPE pipes can be frozen solid but still won’t break or sustain damage. However, it is still best to drain the irrigation system before winter to ensure continuous, smooth operation.  

5. Eco-friendly

Good-quality HDPE pipes and fittings are made of recycled plastic, mainly from post-consumer products. They are recyclable as well.

Because of these reasons, they are one of the eco-friendliest construction materials around.

With these qualities and features, HDPE pipes are a superior choice over steel or ductile iron pipe for irrigation systems.

Get in touch with our team to find out which of our HDPE products are suitable for your irrigation project.