Dissolved minerals and salts are naturally present in all water supplies.

Some minerals can be very beneficial to your flowers and grass, while others may be harmful to your plants or irrigation system.

Understanding the attributes of the water you use for irrigation & gardening can help you choose a landscape that will thrive in those conditions.

Below are some of the water quality issues we test for:

• Salinity - High levels of salinity can hinder a plants’ ability to draw enough water from the soil. It can even harm the soil’s overall structure.
• Sodium - Most plants can tolerate sodium levels as high as 70 ppm, but turf grass and other plants can be more sensitive to sodium.
• pH - Measured on a scale from 0 to 14, the pH is a measure of a substance’s acidity or alkalinity with 14 being the most alkaline. Water should have a pH of 6.5 to 7. When the level too high or too low, it can affect the pH of your soil. Acidic water can also be corrosive, causing damage to your irrigation system.
• Chloride – A chloride concentration below 70 ppm is safe for most plants, but higher levels can be toxic to foliage and other sensitive plants.
• Fertilizer Nutrients - Some water may contain nutrients commonly in fertilizers, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. If they are present in large quantities, it may be something to consider when evaluating your fertilization needs.
• Sediment - Water drawn from bedrock wells may contain small sand particles, while shallow irrigation wells might contain silt, clay or plant material. These sediments can clog irrigation equipment or damage your system. Depending on the level of sediment in the water, a filtration system may be required.
• Water Hardness – “Hard” water usually refers to water with a high concentration of calcium. Calcium is not, in and of itself, harmful but it can crust on valves and inside pipes. Hard water can also be incompatible with some pesticides and fertilizers.

Call Sarasota Irrigation Repair at 941-321-8001 for more information!