Starter Irrigation System for Hosepipe Bans

A Hosepipe Ban means you are unable to use your hosepipe for watering the garden or plants in your garden at home.  It is intended to make the best use of valuable water supplies that are in short supply.  LeakyPipe has a similar ethos as it uses less water than a hosepipe for watering the garden, and it delivers water direct to the soil. It works even more efficiently used sub-surface under a layer of mulch or soil.

In hosepipe bans, drip or trickle irrigation systems are often permitted in the following circumstances:

• The system must be fitted with a pressure reducing valve and a timer
• The system must place water drip by drip directly onto the soil surface, or beneath the soil surface, without any surface run off. (LeakyPipe does this)

We have put a kit together which meets these requirements. The timer and adjustable pressure reducing valve are preassembled with PTFE tape.  The LeakyPipe does not connect direct to the timer/pressure regulator and you will need to provide a short length of hosepipe to carry the water from the timer to the LeakyPipe area. This avoids watering the in-between areas of paths, patios etc, unnecessarily.  Hosesnap / Hozelock type fittings are compatible.

You will need:

• 2x 1.5V AA batteries for the tap timer
• length of non-leaking pipe eg hosepipe, to carry the water from the pressure regulator to the area you want to water with LeakyPipe. You will need female hozelock type connectors on your pipe.
• scissors or secateurs to cut the LeakyPipe to length,
• simple self-assembly using push-fit connectors which grip the inside of the LeakyPipe without the need for clips.
• Once you see the LeakyPipe working, cover with a layer of mulch or soil.

For more information on the timers, see here

For more information on the LeakyPipe, see here