Lake Capacity Calculations to Water Lawn

Spacecoastlawn – posted 30 July 2001 10:19

Hello,

Is there a fast rule for establishing a lake volume per area of yard to water the lawn? I’ve got a bahia lawn (15000 S.F) and want to put in a sprinkler system. I’m trying to determine if I should pay for a well or tap into our small lake. I would perfer the lake since over well water is subject to salt intrusion, which is typical for the area we live in. The only pending issue is to determine that the lake capacity is adequate.

Thanks!!

seed – posted 31 July 2001 01:30

Spacecoastlawn, bahiagrass can normally survive in Florida on no supplemental irrigation. But in the extreme case that you want to be able to irrigate it to replace natural evapotranspiration, the maximum measured value, and assuming it never rains, is 7.4 inches during June; yearround we’re talking about no more than 60 inches. For a 15,000 square foot lawn, that’s 69,202 gallons in June and 561,100 gallons yearround. In terms of cubic feet, that’s 9250 cubic feet in June, and 75,000 yearround. So if your lake is 7500 square feet and 10 feet deep, and if it gets recharged once per year, you will just be able to irrigate from the pond, that is, if you want to irrigate at all. Remember, however, that irrigation systems are frequently corrupted by other factors such as clogged filter, poor sprinkler head distribution, and pressure losses.

Phil