We might be getting off the track here at Marks expense…but Don is correct and Corbin is in left field. To make a statement think about water flowing from a 1 1/4 pipe trying to fit into a 3/4 pipe is absurd to say the least. Breaking pipe joints, I dont think so! The most water that will flow thru this line is what the area will allow at a given pressure, (whatever that happens to be) period. Remember the pipe wall itself is a restriction to flow, the larger the dia. the less restriction. However head pressure is your greatest concern. But volume is directly connectly pipe dia. and will be noticed by that person taking the hot shower on the second floor when the washer is running in the basement!: Don: I assisted in installing the following network and many others like it while employed for South East Kelowna Irrigation District, Kelowna, BC, Canada.: This system was designed for an area that consists of 5 tree farms. A gravity feed system with a network of PRV valves (about 120 psi down to 60 psi).: A 12inch insulated steel main line ran down to the housing district and was about 3/4 of a mile from the house we were employed to install new services to.: From this mainline 4inch C900 PVC enters a pressure reducing station.: From the PRV station the 4inch carries water through 3 different properties all having at least 10acres of irrigated land (6 services). The line ends at the end of the last property and has been designed to support more homes.: Branching from the mainline and entering each property was one 3/4 inch service for irrigation and one 1/2inch service for the home. Each of these lines had a meter placed in line.: I was also suprised and asked the designer about his choice of pipe size. He responded that previous to 1994 all irrigation services were 1-1/4inch and services to homes were 3/4inch.: Through management changeovers money was to be saved and smaller pipe sizes used.: Irrigation sizes changed to 3/4 or 1inch and service to homes was moved to 1/2inch for large homes and 1/4inch for small condos, trailers and apartments.: This system works very well and is inplace with plans for extension to 3 other farms.: I am sure that a pump which could produce sufficient pressure (60psi) on one of the upper level faucets would not need a line bigger than 3/4inch. However, since this system is drawn from a well and is without a separate irrigation service a larger line may be needed for irrigation.: If daily long durations of irrigation are required a line of about 1-1/4 to 1-1/2inch would definately be adequate for a well system.: Remember if irrigating from the same line as home service is on always have a proper backflow device installed.: It is best to avoid this and install two services (only for networked systems).
