How To Connect Water Supply For Irrigation Sprinkler System

Connecting Household Water Supply to an Irrigation Sprinkler System

When installing a sprinkler system you must determine how you would like to connect the irrigation system to the household Water Supply.  There are two ways to connect to the water supply;

1. Simply connect the sprinkler system valves to the water supply using the existing hose faucet.  This may be the easiest route but also could have a few drawbacks, being lack of flow rate and noise of system when running.  However for smaller systems this may be a simple and inexpensive alternative to plumbing the irrigation system into the household water supply.

2. Plumbing into the household Water Supply.  This is the most common installation method for most medium to large systems and we don't recommend doing this prior to checking local regulation and consulting a plumber for professional advise.  

Regardless of which method you choose, most sprinkler irrigation systems employ the same concept of components which is illustrated below:

STANDARD POLY IRRIGATION PIPE INSTALLATION

BLU LOCK INSTALLATION ( Using Blu-Lock Saves You Time and Energy)

1. Commonly called an Isolation Valve in Irrigation installations, the use of a PVC Ball Valve is a common starting point for Sprinkler Systems.  This valve is used to "isolate" the Sprinkler system from the household or common water supply.  This enables you to shut the system off if needed and is also used for winterization of the Sprinkler System.  Size of the Ball Valve will depend on the size of supply line used to supply water to the Irrigation System.  CLICK HERE for Ball Valves options for your Installation.

2. Schedule 80 PVC Nipple Fittings are often used to connect same sized FPT (Female Pipe Thread) fittings.  Shown here they can also be used to adjoin Water Source system componenets for your Sprinkler Irrigation Installation.  System components can also be combined using a combination of Male Adaptor Fittings and Poly or PVC tubing.  CLICK HERE for our selection of Schedule 80 Nipple Fittings.  CLICK HERE for our selection of Male Adaptor Fittings.

3. Blow Out Access Fitting.  Commonly used as an access point for winterizing your Irrigation Sprinkler sytem, this fitting is often a T-Fitting with FPT Threading.  When winterizing the Sprinkler System the Isolation Valve is closed and the cap of the Blow Out fitting is removed to fit the appropriate air compression fitting to the Irrigation System.  This fitting can be installed as either an Insert Fitting (Insert x Insert x FPT), or Schedule 40 PVC Fitting.  CLICK HERE for insert fitting options.  CLICK HERE for Schedule 40 options.

4. Blow Out Cap.  This is simply a MPT (Male Pipe Thread) Cap for the Blow Out Access Fitting.  CLICK HERE for MPT Caps.

5. Check Valve.  An Irrigation Check Valve is usually required to stop the reverse flow of water from your Sprinkler System back to your water supply.   Regulations for Check Valves vary between local municipalities.  Check with your local municipality for necessary Check Valve requirements when installing your Sprinkler Irrigation System.  CLICK HERE for available Check Valves from Irrigation Direct Canada.

6. Male Adaptor Fitting (assuming use of Poly Irrigation Tubing).  This Irrigation Fitting connects your water source cobination to your Irrigation Tubing leading to your Sprinkler Valves or Manifolds (See Manifold How ToTutorial).  When using insert fittings you must also use Either Gear or Crimp Clamps to ensure the fitting is water tight.  CLICK HERE for Male Adaptor Fittings from our Irrigation Supply Store.

7. When installing your Sprinkler Irrigation System you will connect your Water Supply Using a Male Adaptor for either 1" (37678) or 3/4" (37378)

This Irrigation Water Source Set Up is applicable for all provinces in Canada, British Columbia, B.C. Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Maritimes.

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