System and Method for Harvested Water Irrigation

Abstract

A system and method for harvested water irrigation is provided. The irrigation system generally collects harvested water from a variety of sources and disperses it from a tank to a landscape for irrigation. The irrigation may be managed using a system controller. The system controller interacts with a variety of devices, including a level controller, a pump or valve, and at least one zone valve. The system may be configured to end irrigation cycles in response to certain events and to supplement harvested water irrigation with potable water as needed or selected.

1 . An irrigation system comprising:
 at least one source of harvested water;   a harvested water supply line for delivering the harvested water from the at least one source to a tank, wherein the tank contains a level of harvested water, at least one harvested water inlet, a harvested water outlet and an overflow outlet;   a level sensor for measuring the level of harvested water in the tank;   a level controller coupled to the level sensor;   a pressure source for energizing and moving the harvested water out of the tank;   at least one irrigation supply line for delivering the harvested water from the tank to at least one emission device;   at least one zone control valve connected to the irrigation supply line for controlling the delivery of the harvested water to the emission devices located within a corresponding zone, wherein each zone has a moisture balance; and   a system controller communicating with the level controller and the zone control valve.   
     
     
         2 . The irrigation system of  claim 1  wherein the system controller determines the moisture balance of a zone based on at least one input. 
     
     
         3 . The irrigation system of  claim 2  wherein the at least one input is selected from the group consisting of soil type, soil moisture balance, slope, plant material, irrigation emission device type, and weather data. 
     
     
         4 . The irrigation system of  claim 1  further comprising a weather station that communicates with the system controller. 
     
     
         5 . The irrigation system of  claim 1  further comprising at least one moisture sensor in at least one zone, wherein the moisture sensor communicates with the system controller. 
     
     
         6 . The irrigation system of  claim 1  wherein the system controller determines when an irrigation cycle is needed based upon input from the level controller and the moisture balance of at least one zone. 
     
     
         7 . The irrigation system of  claim 1  wherein the system controller determines an evapotranspiration (ET) value. 
     
     
         8 . The irrigation system of  claim 1  further comprising a rainfall sensor for detecting a saturation threshold of rainfall. 
     
     
         9 . The irrigation system of  claim 6  wherein the system controller determines the irrigation cycle timing and duration based upon at least one variable. 
     
     
         10 . The irrigation system of  claim 9  wherein the at least one variable is selected from the group consisting of a watering schedule, the ET value, the moisture balance of at least one zone, and the saturation threshold of rainfall. 
     
     
         11 . The irrigation system of  claim 6  wherein the irrigation cycle is performed using the harvested water. 
     
     
         12 . The irrigation system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a potable water source; 
 a potable water supply line for delivering the potable water; and 
 a potable water valve on the potable water supply line for controlling the delivery of the potable water, wherein the potable water valve communicates with the system controller. 
 
     
     
         13 . The irrigation system of  claim 6  wherein the irrigation cycle is performed using potable water. 
     
     
         14 . The irrigation system of  claim 11  wherein the irrigation cycle using the harvested water is supplemented with potable water. 
     
     
         15 . The irrigation system of  claim 1  wherein the system controller has an extended absence setting. 
     
     
         16 . The irrigation system of  claim 15  wherein the irrigation cycle is performed using potable water when the extended absence setting is activated. 
     
     
         17 . The irrigation system of  claim 16  wherein the extended absence setting is activated by the system controller when the level of harvested water in the tank does not reach a predetermined level for a specified period of time. 
     
     
         18 . The irrigation system of  claim 8  wherein if the saturation threshold is reached, the system controller will stop the irrigation cycle if in progress and will not start the irrigation cycle if not yet in progress. 
     
     
         19 . The irrigation system of  claim 1  wherein the emission devices are selected from the group consisting of spray heads, rotors, drip components and impact drive sprinklers. 
     
     
         20 . The irrigation system of  claim 1  wherein at least one supply line has a check valve for preventing backflow. 
     
     
         21 . The irrigation system of  claim 12  wherein at least one supply line has a check valve for preventing backflow. 
     
     
         22 . The irrigation system of  claim 1  wherein the overflow outlet connects to a sewage line or septic tank. 
     
     
         23 . The irrigation system of  claim 1  further comprising a filtration system for filtering the harvested water. 
     
     
         24 . The irrigation system of  claim 1  wherein the pressure source is selected from the group consisting of at least one pump and gravitational pressure. 
     
     
         25 . The irrigation system of  claim 1  further comprising a gravitational outlet valve for releasing harvested water, wherein the gravitational outlet valve communicates with the system controller. 
     
     
         26 . The irrigation system of  claim 2  wherein the system controller determines the one or more zones that may be irrigated when the level of harvested water in the tank reaches a disposal level.