The Water Log

Sponsored by Green Water Technologies A Division of Nolan Plumbing and Irrigation Inc. 12542 Woodcutter Rd. Jacksonville, FL 32220

Volume 1 Issue 2 Summer /Fall of 2011

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Headless Irrigation Project Photos Tankless Water Heaters

Phone: (904) 783-4321 Fax: (904) 781-0716 E-mail: nolanplumbing@att.net or jwn2009@comcast.net

Visit us on the web: www.nolanplumbingandirrigation.com

SUBSURFACE DRIP IRRIGATION FOR LAWN APPLICATIONS: HYDRATION THROUGH INNOVATION

2 3 Much has been said and written about the need for water conservation. Mandatory water restriction have been imposed as an attempt at saving Netafim Techline CV our most precious reHEADLESS IRRIGATION instal- Dripplerline for sub- Drenching for HEADLESS IRRIGATION source. The water pursurface installation. lation before yard was sodded. veyors have threatened HEADLESS IRRIGATION will provide to fine you if you are non- HEADLESS IRRIGATION works because water is applied directly enough moisture to the soil profile to compliant. were it is needed; in the soil where sustain the lawn. the plant roots are located. Your sprinkler heads are constantly out of adjustThe way to maintain adequate soil ment, watering the drive- No water is lost to evaporation, run moisture is to replace what is lost from way, the neighbors yard, off, or drift. Staining of driveways daily evaporation transpiration. In our getting hacked by the and sidewalks or spotting of winarea during these hot summer days lawn mower or hedge dows is eliminated. One hundred that is about a quarter inch per day. trimmer. Traditional percent of your irrigation water is sprinkler heads use large efficiently placed where it is With HEADLESS IRRIGATION we are amounts of water and needed; one drop at a time. able to replace what is lost with propare not the most efficient erly scheduled run times. Water reway to effectively manLets cut to the chase. All drip tub- strictions do not apply, because even age soil moisture. ing is not the same. Drip tubing for the water purveyors know that there subsurface irrigation has been is not a drop of water wasted. Nolan Plumbing and Irri- around for years and is specifically gation Inc. has been pro- designed for use in lawn or sports active at implementing turf applications. cutting edge solutions to meet the needs of our We have successfully installed clients. HEADLESS IRRIGATION in existing lawns as well as yards before they We have installed water were newly sodded. conserving drip tubing for many of our customers around shrubbery for several years. We have also installed subsurface drip irrigation in lawns as well. We call this process HEADLESS IRRIGATION.

Conventional Storage Water Heaters Backflow Preventers Water Restrictions Xeriscaping

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BON APPETIT
WE WOULD LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUY YOU DINNER! WE WILL BE HAVING A BLIND DRAW TO DETERMINE THE WINNER! YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE ENTERED BY CLICKING ON OUR E-MAIL ADDRESS. E-mail: nolanplumbing@att.net

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V o l u m e 1 Is su e 2

You can win dinner on us.

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HEADLESS IRRIGATION
INSTA LLATION

TWO WEEKS AFTER COMPLETION

Photos of equipment we used for cutting trenches for this job.

FOUR WEEKS AFTER COMPLETION

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V ol u m e 1 Is su e 2

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T A N K L E S S WAT E R H E AT E R S
Tankless water heaters, also known as (On Demand) come in a variety of sizes and applications. You can use them to heat water for the whole house or use them in specific areas of the home where you would want instantaneous hot water. Natural gas or propane is the preferred choice should you want to go with a whole house tankless water heater. If your household is typical and uses 40 or less gallons of hot water per day you could see a 25% to 35% improvement in energy efficiency compared to a traditional storage water heater.
Whole house tankless water heater

If you use large amounts of hot water, 80-85 gallons per day a tankless water heater can be 10% to 14% more energy efficient than a traditional storage tank.

where in the home you want hot water and come in electric models for ease and convenient installation. If you install a tankless water heater at each hot water outlet it is possible to have energy saving of 25% to 50%. We have provided our customers with both the whole house model and the point of use model. Let us assist you when the time comes to replace your water heater. Call our office at (904) 783-4321 to discuss which option works best for you.

Point of use tankless water heater

Point of use tankless water heaters can be installed any

C O N V E N T I O N A L S T O R A G E E L E C T R I C WA T E R
H EAT ERS
Water heating is the third largest energy expense in your home. It accounts for about 13% of your utility bill. There are four ways to cut your water heating bills: use less hot water, turn down the thermostat on your water heater, insulate your water heater, or buy a new, more efficient model. Install aerating, low-flow faucets and showerheads. Repair leaky faucets promptly; a leaky faucet wastes gallons of water in a short period of time. Lower the thermostat on your water heater; water heaters sometimes come from the factory with high temperature settings, but a setting of 120F provides comfortable hot water for most uses. Insulate your electric hot-water storage tank, but be careful not to cover the thermostat. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations. Insulate the first 6 feet of the hot and cold water pipes connected to the water heater. Although most water heaters last 1015 years, it's best to start shopping now for a new one if yours is more than 7 years old. Doing some research before your heater fails will enable you to select one that most appropriately meets your needs. Buy a new energy-efficient water heater. While it may cost more initially than a standard water heater, the energy savings will continue during the lifetime of the appliance. Look for the ENERGY STAR and Energy Guide labels.

Look for the Energy Star and Energy Guide labels when replacing your water heater.

Low flow shower head 1.9 gallons per minute

Bathroom faucet aerator 1.5gpm

G re e n Wa t e r T e ch n o l o gi e s

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B AC K F L OW P R E V E N T I O N
Backflow is the backward movement of water flow and may happen if a water main bursts, pipes freeze or an unusually high demand on the water supply causes a reduction in normal water pressure. These events may allow contaminated water to be drawn back into the water supply. To prevent this from occurring nearly all water purveyors require some type of backflow prevention device. A backflow preventer has test cocks and shut-off valves and must be tested annually to make sure they are functioning properly to protect the water supply. This test can only be preformed by a certified backflow tester. Test reports are recorded and submitted to the local utility. Should the backflow preventer fail it may be repaired or replaced and another test preformed. Backflow prevention devices are required if your irrigation system is tied to a irrigation meter. If your irrigation system is tied to your house meter you are required to have a backflow preventer installed as well. Hose bibs also must have a backflow preventer installed. If you are irrigating with reclaimed water you must have an approved backflow preventer installed on the potable water supply pipes. This is to keep reclaimed water form possibly entering the water supply. Backflow preventers should not be installed on reclaimed water pipes. There are various types of backflow preventers to choose from . A double check valve assembly (DCA) is used on most irrigation systems to prevent back pressure and back siphoning. A reduced pressure (RP) assembly is used on commercial buildings , hospitals, and vetinarianry offices. The RP is also required on the potable water supply lines if you irrigate with reclaimed water. Hose bib vacuum breaker Once your backflow device is installed it should be properly insulated to protect it from freeze damage. If you have questions about backflow prevention call our office at (904) 783-4321 and we will be happy to assist you. We are licensed and certified to test, install, and repair all types of backflow devices. We are a JEA preferred vendor for this service and ready to help you stay in compliance. You can find more information about backflow prevention at JEAs website: www.jea.com Double Check Valve Assembly (DCA)

Reduced Pressure Backflow assembly (RP)

W AT ER R ES TRI C TI ON G U I DE
The St. Johns River Management District has established the following permanent watering restrictions. Residential addresses that end with an odd number may water Wednesday and Saturday during Daylight Saving Time. Only on Saturday during Eastern Standard Time. Residential addresses that end with an even number may water Thursday and Sunday during Daylight Saving Time. Only on Sunday during Eastern Standard Time. Nonresidential properties may water Tuesday and Friday during Daylight Saving Time. Only on Tuesday during Eastern Standard Time. When running your irrigation system water no more than 1 hour per zone. Watering of new landscaping and sod is allowed at any time of day for the first 30 days and every other day for the next 30 days. Watering in of fertilizers and pesticides is allowed anytime within 24 hours of application. You may operate your system anytime for maintenance and repairs for 20 minutes per zone. Irrigating using micro-spray or drip irrigation is allowed anytime. Watering with a hand held hose with a spray nozzle or using reclaimed water is allowed anytime. Water restriction apply to those who irrigate from a private well also. Learn more at: www.floridaswater.com.

You can win dinner on us.

Read more on page 5

Visit us on the web: www.nolanplumbingandirrigation.com

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GR E EN W AT ER T ECH N O LO GI ES
12542 WOODCUTTER RD. JACKSONVILLE, FL 32220

Phone: (904) 783-4321 Fax: (904) 781-0716 E-mail: nolanplumbing@att.net E-mail: jwn2009@comcast.net www.nolanplumbingandirrigation.com

Our next newsletter will be coming out early spring of 2012.

This is a photo of a Eastern Redbud tree, a Florida native plant.

THE BIG WINNER OF OUR SPRING DRAWING WAS KEN KENNEDY

XERISCAPING: THE RIGHT CHOICE

You can win dinner on us.
WE WOULD LIKE THE OPPORTUNTIY TO BUY YOU DINNER! WE WILL BE HAVING A BLIND DRAW TO DETERMINE THE WINNER! YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE ENTERED BY CLICKING ON OUR EMAIL ADDRESS! E-mail: nolanplumbing@att.net
Xeriscaping is a term that was created by some folks from the Denver Water Department, Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado and Colorado State University during the droughts of the late 70s in the southwestern United States. Basically xeriscaping means to landscape your property with water conservation in mind. Xeriscape can be accomplished using the following 7 principals. 1. 2. 3. PLAN & DESIGN: Consider the sites existing conditions. Create a drawing of your property. SOIL MANAGEMENT: Amendments my be needed. Drainage my be required. Soils can vary from one side of the home to the other. MINIMIZE TURFGRASS: Lawns require large amounts of watering; particularly St. Augustine. Use turf in areas if you have pets and areas for the children to play. Consider using Bermuda, Zoysia, or Centipede grass, they require less irrigation. RIGHT PLANT, RIGHT LOCATION: Consider native plants, after all they are most suited for your site. Many choices are available. Group plantings that have the same water requirements together. Have a mental picture of how a particular plant will look when it is mature. Properly plant deciduous and evergreen trees to your advantage. IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT: Irrigate efficiently by applying water only were and as it is needed. It is very important to have a properly designed irrigation system. Use drip tubing and low volume sprinkler heads. MULCHING: Mulching minimizes water loss to evaporation. Mulching also keeps soils from becoming hydrophobic or crusty. Mulch also acts as an insulator for the plant roots. PROPER MAINTENANCE: The goal here is to establish a beautiful landscape that is low maintenance . Use less fertilizer, less pesticides and efficiently use irrigation water. Give plants the room they need to grow and you can reduce time spend pruning them. Keep the blades sharp on your pruning and mowing equipment.

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If you are interested in native or Florida friendly plants a plant database is available at: www.floridayards.org/fyplants/index.php