Minimum, So the LD just did a rough sketch design but leave it up to you to go to an irrigation contractor and prepare a layout design for his scematic design. Is that correct. How did he get around to suggesting 10 zones with certain types heads? Sounds like he knows the flow rate and pressure of the water sources to make a rough design. What did he recommend for the other 4 zones. How long are the runs for the main lines and laterals and what size pipe would you are thinking of installing? Get some bids from three irrigation contractors(licensed please) and see what they recommend. Post here the bids and we can critique the quality and cost. Their bids will be more conducive to what the system will cost in your local area. it varies quite a bit across the country. Aloha

Depends on how complex the zones are. If its a simple run, then it could be a few thousand. A safer estimate is probably $1000/zone average. Possibly a bit higher if it gets complex. Drip is xerigation and more efficient than spray rotors. You only drip plants, shrubs, and young trees. The drip water goes straight down into the root zone rather than spraying it into the air and letting the water evaporate before it does any good. Well is definitely cheaper in the long run. Payback can be as short as a few years to 8-10 years. If you are in williamsburg it might get a bit trickier. The closer you are to the river, the deeper down you have to go to get water (doesn't make sense does it, but thats the way the water table works). So, in some places in Williamsburg you might have to go a few hundred feet before hitting the aquifer to get water. Don't even bother with the shallow water well as you can't get enough water to irrigate. you will need to put in a backflow device as well if you tap into city or country water sources.

A single 55 Gal watering system can be done between $100 - $200! (excluding pump)! Where as we collect water into a 1200 gallon underground tank and use a shallow well jet pump for distribution to our five water stations. Initial installation costs were over $4,000 in material and I did the work! And I'm considering adding an additional 800-1200 gallon tank! Your issues are going to be 1. What do your local building codes allow. 2. How large a tank can you use. 3. A large $$$ for you is going to be the size of the pump needed to pump water to the roof! Hope this helps........

I agree. Drip is the way to go. I would irrigate the densely planted areas with pressure compensating dripline (Netafim Techline CV). I would use Spray Stakes for the plants that are widely spaced. Use multiple Spray Stakes for plants with large root systems (Netafim Pressure Compensating Spray Stakes) . These products are readily available online. To prevent drainage at the lowest emitter in the case of substantial elevation difference, run each elevation on its own zone, or feed from the bottom and install inline check valves between elevation changes.