Pipes

Pipes buying guide

Veldkraft lists 165 pipes, priced from R1 to R5 269, from brands including Microjet, Storm Agri, K-brand, Barelli. Orders are delivered to all nine provinces and to Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho and Eswatini.

Choose irrigation pipe by the job

Start with what the pipe has to do. Irrigation pipe in this range covers flexible dragline for moving sprinklers, micro drip pipe for drippers, and stand pipes that lift sprinklers above the crop. Galvanised steel pipe suits exposed runs where plastic could be damaged, and yellow suction hose connects pumps to a water source. Brands include Microjet, Storm Agri, Keliflex, Truco and Barelli. Decide on the job first, then on diameter, length and material.

Dragline: diameter and roll length

Pick dragline diameter for flow and length for reach. A larger bore, such as 20mm, carries more water over longer runs with less pressure loss than 12.5mm, which suits short runs and small sprinklers. Rolls come in lengths such as 36 and 100 metres. Check whether a listing is priced per roll or per metre: P/Roll in the title means a roll price and Pm means a price per metre.

Stand pipes: PVC or galvanised?

Choose stand pipe material by exposure and traffic. PVC stand pipes are light, do not rust and suit gardens and protected beds. Galvanised stand pipes are stiffer and stand up to knocks from machinery and livestock, so they suit fields and orchards. Sizes run from 15mm to 40mm in diameter and 150mm to 1000mm long. Match the thread to your sprinkler and choose a height that clears the crop at full growth.

Micro drip pipe and insert fittings

Use micro drip pipe to carry water from a lateral line to individual drippers or plants. It has a narrow bore, such as 1mm, comes on long rolls, such as 500 metres, and is cut to length. Plastic insert fittings join and extend pipe runs; check the insert matches the pipe size and class. Micro systems block easily, so filter water at the head of the system and flush the lines each season.

Galvanised pipe and suction hose

Use galvanised pipe where strength matters more than weight, such as above-ground runs, livestock water points and frames. The medium-grade pipe here comes in 3 metre lengths with screwed and socketed ends, in sizes such as 65mm. On the pump inlet, suction hose must stay round under vacuum, so use proper suction hose, such as the yellow 75mm hose on 30 metre rolls, rather than ordinary layflat or garden hose. Keep the suction run as short as practical.

Work out flow and pressure first

Size the pipe from flow, distance and pressure, not from price per metre alone. Work out the flow your sprinklers or drippers need, measure the run from pump or tap to the furthest outlet, and note the pressure available. Longer runs and higher flows need a larger diameter to keep pressure at the far end. Allow for height as well: lifting water uphill costs about 1 bar of pressure for every 10 metres of rise.

Pipes: common questions

What is the difference between dragline and drip pipe?

Dragline is flexible pipe that feeds a sprinkler you move by hand from one position to the next, usually in 12.5mm or 20mm bore. Micro drip pipe is much narrower, such as 1mm bore, and delivers water slowly to individual plants or drippers. Dragline suits lawns, pastures and vegetable beds; drip pipe suits rows, trees and pots.

What size irrigation pipe do I need?

Base it on flow, distance and pressure. Add up the flow of every sprinkler or dripper that runs at once, measure the length to the furthest outlet and check your pump or tap pressure. Short runs with one sprinkler suit 12.5mm dragline, while longer runs or several outlets need 20mm. If pressure at the far end drops, go up a size.

What does Pm mean on a pipe listing?

On these listings, Pm indicates a price per metre, while P/Roll indicates a price for the full roll. A title may also give the roll length, such as 100m, so check whether you are ordering by the metre or by the roll and set the quantity to match the length you need.

How much does irrigation pipe cost in South Africa?

Veldkraft lists 165 pipes and pipe fittings priced from R1 to R5 269. Several listings are priced per metre rather than per roll, which is why the low end of the range is small, so check the unit in each title. Price rises with diameter, wall strength and material, and with roll length on per-roll listings.

How high should a sprinkler stand pipe be?

High enough to clear the crop at its full height, so the spray pattern is not blocked as plants grow. Short stand pipes of around 150mm to 300mm suit lawns and low beds, while tall crops and orchards need longer pipes, up to 1000mm. Use galvanised pipe where tall risers could be knocked by machinery or animals.

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