Advantages/Disadvantages of Lake, Well, or Stream Irrigation in Atlanta

As the price of our water goes up in the Atlanta Metro Area, we all try to find ways to reduce our usage and the bill. One way some people do this is by tapping their irrigation system into a nearby lake, stream, or into a well. Ultimately this will reduce the water bill but there is more to this topic than what you might think.

First— the advantages:

1. The obvious– saving money through lower water bills.
2. You can water as often as you like during dry periods.
3. The natural water is typically healthier for the Atlanta lawns/landscapes.
4. You will have a more lush looking lawn and landscape.

Now—the disadvantages:

1. The initial installation costs are higher because of the pump materials, well-drilling costs, and the additional labor required.
2. The organics in the water can clog the filter at the pump or the nozzles in the heads  resulting in more maintenance for the irrigation system.
3. Frequently, weed seeds are spread through the system as they are present in the natural water sources and get sucked into the pump and out through the heads onto the landscape. The result—more weeds. This can require more landscape maintenance and chemicals to control the weeds.

This third disadvantage is one many Atlanta Area people are unaware of and find out about the hard way. Generally, this is controllable by a reputable Landscape Maintenance Company.

When deciding whether or not to install a pump and use lake, well, or stream water; do some math first. What does your city/county water cost per gallon? What would it cost to install a subtraction meter behind your main meter to measure the water going to the irrigation system? (This water can be subtracted from your overall usage so you won’t have to pay the sewage fee on the irrigation water.) Then, get a price from a competent Irrigation Company to install a pump, drill a well, etc. to use non-city/county water. A pump alone can cost $1500-$2500 installed; wells are a lot more. Next, you will need to determine how many gallons of water your system uses during a  full cycle and how many times you typically run the system per week/month. Now, you can start to compare the operational cost differences.

The next big item is; how long are you going to be in this house? How long will it take to recoup your higher installation costs through usage savings? Will you be in this house long enough to reap any savings? If you are going to live in this house for many years, it is usually a good idea to check into using non-city/county water for irrigation. These are all-important ideas to think about before installing a pump or well system.

I hope this helps; I have had a lot of interest lately on this topic. For more information, contact a Professional Irrigation Company or call me,

Jim Pollock,        at Pollock & Associates, Inc.          770-569-5900