The following equipment is required for measuring or testing water pressure and flow in a pressurised irrigation system. This equipment should always be available as it helps the operator to accurately monitor and troubleshoot an irrigation system.
Be sure that your equipment is tested, calibrated and functioning as expected. For gauges, it may be easier and cheaper to replace rather than service the item if a problem arises (sticky needles, erratic movement, not registering any pressure).
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It may be possible to read to the nearest unit of pressure, but you should avoid making readings that claim a greater accuracy than the dial of the gauge would allow, or the specifications claimed by the manufacturer. For example, if the gauge states 253kPa, it may be better to record 250kPa. You should be mindful, also, to record the location of the gauge (beneath the emitter; a reading at the emitter outlet using a Pitot tube attached to the gauge) and whether the pressure is for static flow (no water flowing in the irrigation line) or dynamic flow (water flowing in the line at a specified rate). |
Pressure gauge (kPa)
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A standard in-line pressure gauge measuring pressure in kilopascals (kPa). |
Pressure gauge (psi)
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A standard in-line pressure gauge measuring pressure in pound per square inch (psi). This is an older imperial unit of measurement. |
Picot tube and gauge
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For making pressure readings at the sprinkler head a special unit called a Picot tube and gauge are used. It measure actual pressure at the sprinkler head. The unit is simply a normal pressure gauge with a small tube of just a few millimetres in diameter attached to it. The tube is inserted into the water stream emerging from the sprinkler head. |
Flow meter
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Meters that are installed in the irrigation line and measure the volume of water flowing through the pipe. They measure water flow in litres per minute or cubic metres per hour, depending on the type and size of system it is connected to. This is by far the simplest and easiest way to measure water flow. The meter may look similar to a domestic water meter, which in fact is a flow meter, recording how much water has been used. It may also look like a pressure gauge with a needle indicating the flow on a dial. |
Stopwatch
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A standard digital stopwatch with a timer countdown function. Useful for timing water flow, for example how long it takes to fill a bucket. |
Bucket
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A bucket or similar sized container with water volume markings (e.g. 5 litres). |
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View Types of hand tools and how to care for them in the Equipment shed. The cleaning and storage tips also apply to pressure and flow testing equipment in this resource. |
