How to do a Bucket Flow Test
1
Choose the tap you want to use for your irrigation
a) Make sure no other water is being used in the house
b) Do the test at a time that water use in the local area is low, i.e. not at dinner time.
2
Fill a bucket
a) with the tap on full
b) time how long it takes to fill
3
Use the calculator below
to work out your max irrigation flow
Irrigation Flow Calculator
Max Irrigation Rate (50%): 0 litres per minute
Bucket Test Formula Explanation
(60 / time in seconds) x bucket size in litres = litres per minute
Let's say you filled your 10-litre bucket in 15 seconds.
Time = 15
Litres = 10
So according to our equation, we have (60 / 15) x 10 = 36 lpm
Max L/pm for our irrigation is 50% of this therefore 20 L/pm
A rule of thumb is to use a design flow that is half of what you have measured.
If you decide to use this rule of thumb, it is advisable to test your biggest zone flow with the actual sprinklers to ensure it works before you install it, so adjustments to your design can be made.
It is possible your water supply may not be able to supply 50% of your flow test at operating pressure.
It is also possible you may be able to have bigger zones, so doing a proper pressure/flow test could easily pay for itself.
Please Note: the message at the end about low-density pipe being rated to 300 kPa is only related to the Lateral 3 bar Product.
For high rated pipe, please see 5 Bar rate lateral pipe, LDPE or MDPE