SPRINKLER TALK FORUM - You Got Questions, We've Got Answers

Hi all --

I turned on my irrigation system today (Rainbird controller, six zones, approximately 25 heads) and I have brown water in my home after running the sprinklers. The brown water only comes after running the sprinklers, it doesn't happen after I turn on the valves supplying water to the solenoid.

I thought it could be a problem with the backflow preventer but I replaced it with new parts from Home Depot. It's a FEBCO 765 PVBA.

Any thoughts? I am lost with this, I can't imagine dirt is coming from the sprinker lines, through the backflow preventer and into the potable water of the home. But maybe it is...?

Thanks.

Quoted from "Wet_Boots"

By any chance are you on well water?

I am not on well water, I am on city water. It's a pretty clear cause and effect, I can have the system on (main irrigation valve open and the valves before and after the PVBA open) with clean water in the house. But if I am running a zone then very clearly brown water comes out of any of the faucets.

Quoted from "Wet_Boots"

You might leave the sprinkler system out of it, but duplicate its flow by opening all the faucets on sinks and bathtubs, and if you aren't seeing brown water by then, open some outdoor hose bibs.

Talk to the water department, and see if they have a schedule of flushing the mains, which gets rid of sediment in the system.

I see, you are suggesting that maybe there is sediment in the main water system and only the sprinkler system is active enough to aggitate the existing sediment?

Thanks.