Short answerPump into a raised tank by day and let gravity feed the drip, using low-pressure emitters or drip tape; no battery is needed. A 1,000 sq ft garden at one inch a week needs about 89 gallons a day.
Key takeaways
- One inch of water on one square foot is 0.623 gallons.
- Pump to a raised tank and let gravity feed the drip for steady pressure.
- Gravity tanks give only a few psi: use low-pressure emitters or drip tape and filter well.
How much water
One inch of water over one square foot is 0.623 gallons. A 1,000 sq ft garden given an inch a week needs 623 gallons a week, or about 89 gallons a day. Hot, windy, sandy sites need more; mulched beds less. Your county extension office can give a local figure for your crops.
| Area | 1 in per week | Per day |
|---|---|---|
| 500 sq ft | 312 gal | 45 gal |
| 1,000 sq ft | 623 gal | 89 gal |
| 5,000 sq ft | 3,115 gal | 445 gal |
| 1 acre (43,560 sq ft) | 27,154 gal | 3,879 gal |
Two ways to supply pressure
Most pressure-compensating emitters need around 10 psi or more to regulate. Gravity tanks a few feet up deliver 2 to 5 psi, so a gravity system works best with non-compensating emitters, drip tape or emitters sold for low-pressure use, short laterals and level ground.
- Pump to a raised tank, then gravity to the drip. The pump runs whenever the sun shines; the tank delivers steady pressure all day. Each 2.31 ft of height gives 1 psi. This is the simplest and most reliable design.
- Pump directly into the drip with a battery or pressure tank. Gives normal emitter pressure but adds a battery or pressure switch and raises the pump's head by the pressure you need.
Sizing the zones
Add up emitter flow in a zone: 200 one-gallon-per-hour emitters use 200 gph, or 3.3 gpm. The supply line and filter must pass that with little loss. Split the garden into zones that each fit what the tank or pump can supply, and water them in turn.
Always filter drip from a solar pump: a 150 to 200 mesh screen or disc filter after the tank keeps emitters clear.
Run your own numbers. The sizing calculator shows every step, for your state, lift and pipe.
Open the calculatorQuestions
- Can a solar pump run drip irrigation without a battery?
- Yes, by pumping to a raised tank and letting gravity feed the drip. It is the most common design. Use low-pressure emitters or drip tape, since the tank gives only a few psi.
A 1,000 sq ft garden in summer, pumped from a pond, as a starting point.