Irrigation Systems

Commercial hydroponic irrigation systems

Integrated Water Process plans and designs hydroponic irrigation systems for commercial greenhouses, controlled-environment agriculture (CEA), and indoor cultivation facilities, including cannabis operations.

Our Total Water Management approach considers irrigation as part of the complete water process: source-water quality, treatment, storage, nutrient dosing, distribution, and any proposed water recovery. We work with your team to define how these elements need to operate together before selecting equipment.

Project support can include system planning, design, procurement and installation, testing and commissioning, maintenance, and water testing and analysis. The agreed project scope defines the services and responsibilities included.

Design irrigation around your operating requirements

Define the requirements before selecting equipment

We begin by documenting your requirements and reviewing them with the project stakeholders. Crop strategy, water quality, nutrient delivery, operating practices, and future plans provide the basis for the irrigation design. This work helps align equipment decisions with your facility’s needs and business objectives.

Coordinate water and nutrient delivery

The design should connect water flow, nutrient dosing, irrigation timing, and distribution to the grower’s feeding requirements. Pumps, filtration, delivery piping, emitters, and controls are considered together rather than as separate purchases.

Automation is selected to support repeatable operation and the intended level of operator involvement. The objective is more consistent delivery and less reliance on manual adjustments, with performance checked against the agreed requirements.

Set practical water and energy objectives

We work with you to establish water- and energy-use objectives and identify opportunities to reduce, reuse, or recycle water. Where the project includes water recovery, the scope should address collection, treatment, storage, and the requirements for reuse.

Improvements can be planned in phases. Water savings and operating-cost expectations should be evaluated for the proposed system and your facility’s operating conditions, rather than based on a general percentage.

Support consistent growing conditions

Irrigation should support the water and nutrient delivery strategy established for the crop. For facilities growing cannabis, lettuce, leafy greens, strawberries, or other crops, the design starts with the intended growing requirements rather than a standard equipment package.

We define water-system operating objectives with your team so that irrigation performance can be assessed alongside the rest of the growing operation.

Plan for expansion and changing crop requirements

Future production areas, changes in crop strategy, and phased investment should be considered during planning. The design can identify where additional capacity or a different distribution arrangement may be needed as the facility develops.

Planning distinguishes adjustments the installed system can accommodate from changes that require additional equipment or capacity.

Address waterborne biosecurity across the water process

Our approach considers potential microbial risks at the water source, in storage, through nutrient dosing, and within the distribution piping. These areas are reviewed as part of the irrigation system rather than treating crop-water delivery in isolation.

Treatment and maintenance are selected to address identified risks across the water process, with responsibilities and verification needs defined for the project.

Related hydroponic services and water-system solutions

Irrigation planning connects the growing process with the equipment and services needed to support it. Explore the related areas below to identify the scope relevant to your facility.

Engineering and project services

• Hydroponic grow system planning
• Hydroponic system design
• System procurement and installation
• Hydroponic system maintenance
• System testing and commissioning
• Water testing and analysis

Related water-system solutions

• Water tanks and storage
• Water filtration
• Water pumps
• Water reclamation and recovery
• Oxygen enrichment and nanobubbles

Frequently asked questions about hydroponic irrigation systems

What are the main components of a hydroponic irrigation system?

Depending on the growing method and project scope, components can include water storage, pumps, filtration, nutrient dosing equipment, delivery piping, emitters, and controls. Planning establishes how these components need to work together to meet the facility’s water and nutrient delivery requirements.

Can the irrigation design include water recovery?

Water recovery can be evaluated as part of the project. The assessment should consider how water will be collected, treated, stored, and reused, along with the operating requirements for that water. Expected savings should be assessed for the actual facility. See our water reclamation and recovery solutions for the related area of work.

Can the system be designed for different crops?

The design can account for different water flow requirements, nutrient delivery, and irrigation schedules. The extent of that flexibility needs to be defined during planning and checked against the equipment selected. Our system design service addresses those requirements before implementation.

What maintenance does a hydroponic irrigation system need?

Maintenance can include inspecting and cleaning filters, checking pumps and emitters for blockage or wear, and checking nutrient dosing and control functions. The maintenance plan should be matched to the installed equipment and operating conditions. Learn more about our hydroponic system maintenance services.

Will a new irrigation system increase crop yield?

The irrigation objective is consistent water and nutrient delivery that supports the grower’s crop strategy. Yield and quality expectations need to be evaluated in the context of the complete growing operation. We define water-system requirements and project objectives rather than promise a specific yield increase.