Building Anti-Siphon Valves

Building an Irrigation Manifold with Anti-Siphon Valves

Today I want to cover some information on Anti-Siphon valves. If you haven’t had the chance to watch my video on what it looks like to build a manifold, you can find that here.

Although it was a fun adventure to build the manifold the video is just the start of what’s involved in the process. There’s also a bit of information that I left out that I would love to have the opportunity to address in this post.

My husband and I went down to the store to grab some readily available valves. To be completely transparent, my plan is actually to use Hunter brand valves on the build. I’m debating between doing a partial lawn genie and partial Hunter system, it’s not ideal, but it will get the job done.

With my design style, we won’t be using any overhead spray connections with this manifold system. I keep that to hose bib timers since I know those systems are temporary in our home. This means that I will be running drip line from our irrigation manifold. Using lower water use plants and irrigating with either point source or in line drip irrigation will help us to conserve water use, this is one of the reasons we choose to use drip rather than overhead spray. Also, having the manifolds means that we have more control over how much water plants are getting thanks to our ability to schedule everything at the timer, rather than just counting the seconds were using the hose or being limited to 10 minute watering times in 6 hour intervals. So, all this being said, I will also have to add a filter at each valve and possibly a pressure reducing valve (I need to test the pressure first). All of these little items including the fittings and the PVC lengths start to add up cost wise. Which brings us to the reason I'm covering this topic in this post ($$$).

NOT SUPER CHEAP AND NOT CRAZY EXPENSIVE

I think this is probably the best way to describe anti-siphon valves. The benefit is that with the correct installation and application the anti-siphon valves provide what you need to stay in compliance with having a system that will protect your home against irrigation water contaminating your potable water supply. The individual components of the system are not super expensive, however, when you start putting everything together the dollar signs begin to add up. That being said, it is still more cost effective than your in line valves but much more expensive than your hose bib timer and polyline. It also can look a lot better and can be much more hands off than a hose bib timer and polyline.

Though you have the option of turning on the anti-siphon valve at the solenoid (that black cylindrical part at the top) you're most likely going to want to install a controller and run timer wire from that solenoid. This is generally an activity you would likely want to bring on a professional for but I will say, when you understand the application, it's pretty straight forward. So, with all this in consideration, I'd like to walk you through the elements that we're including in our irrigation manifold with our anti-siphon valves.

MATERIALS

For our landscape, we'll be installing a combination of functional and low water/low maintenance plantings. Because there's going to be a mix of planting materials we need to have different zones serviced by different valves dependent on the plant water needs and the soil in the area. I know that we're going to have at least 4 zones dedicated to our front yard. Our zones are for trees, garden beds, low water plantings, and fruiting shrubs. The materials for all of these will be:

• 4 Anti-siphon valves

• 4 pressure reducing valves

• 4 filters

• PVC lengths for supply line

• PVC lengths for rises

• PVC lengths for laterals

• 8 elbows (90s) for stub ups to polyline

• 4 PVC to poly line adapters

• 4 Tees (1 Tee at the last valve in case we want to expand the manifold in the future.

• 1 cap

and for the electrical components

• 1 controller

• bundle of 5 group timer wire for direct burial

These materials are strictly what's needed for the manifold and the controller. Though the materials for the laterals are also included all the irrigation beyond that point will be poly line. Though I don't have the lengths included here, you should be able to see why this is second on the list for irrigation systems when we're considering costs.

There's quite a bit more to consider for the building of the infrastructure and when you get to thinking about anti-siphon valves for you residence, though the handy person can work through it, this is probably where you'd like to start connecting with professionals in your area to help out with the builds. If you'd like to see the general process of the build be sure to check out my new video linked at the top, and if you have any questions or are looking for consulting services feel free to check out my contact form.