Hunter solutions for high-performance sports irrigation

By Santiago Casanella, Regional Manager for Southern Europe, Hunter Industries.

There is much more to a great playing surface than just good turf. The irrigation system is one of the factors that most influences the quality of the surface, the safety of the players and the playing experience. As well as keeping the turf in optimal condition, it must meet the specific demands of these facilities: large areas, intensive use, limited time for maintenance and the need to recover the pitch between training sessions, matches and other events.

With over four decades of experience, Hunter Industries develops bespoke solutions for this type of project, from municipal pitches to professional stadiums. Its product range combines high-performance sprinklers, control systems and management technologies that optimise both irrigation quality and water consumption.

Uniform irrigation for natural grass

On a sports pitch, simply achieving long distances is not enough. The key lies in achieving an even distribution of water that prevents dry or waterlogged patches and maintains consistent playing conditions throughout the season.

To this end, Hunter offers the I-Series, designed for large areas. Within the range, the I-40 stands out for combining range, accuracy and durability. Its three-nozzle system provides uniform distribution even in windy conditions, whilst versions with opposing nozzles improve coverage of areas close to the sprinkler.

With a range of up to 23 metres, it can water a football pitch using around 35 units, which can even be configured to operate independently. Its stainless steel stem withstands continuous use and the most demanding conditions, whilst the automatic return of the arc and the drive mechanism protect the sprinkler from accidental movement or tampering, reducing maintenance requirements.

It can also be fitted with a grass-embedding cup, ensuring virtually invisible integration into the playing surface.

When there is very little time available for watering, the high-speed I-40 allows the cycle to be completed more quickly, a particularly useful advantage between matches or training sessions.

Another widely used configuration combines the I-80 in the centre of the pitch with the G885 on the touchlines. Thanks to its range of up to 26 metres, this solution allows the playing surface to be covered with just 24 sprinklers, reducing the number of units installed.

The solution for artificial turf

On artificial surfaces, the aim of irrigation changes. It is no longer a question of keeping the turf alive, but of reducing the temperature, controlling dust, cleaning the surface and improving playing conditions.

For these applications, Hunter has developed the ST system, whose long-range sprinklers irrigate from the perimeter of the pitch, avoiding the need to install equipment within the playing area. The units feature an electric valve and, together with articulated elbows and heavy-duty valve chambers, enable an entire pitch to be covered with just six sprinklers.

Rubber edging provides a safe transition around the sprinkler and helps to retain the infill material in the artificial grass. Furthermore, top access facilitates maintenance operations without the need for digging.

Smart water management

Just as important as the sprinklers is the management of the system. Hunter controllers allow you to manage everything from a single pitch to large sports complexes.

HCC with Hydrawise automatically adapts watering to weather conditions. ICC2 and ACC2 can be connected to Centralus to monitor the entire installation from any device, whilst ACC2 with decoders allows you to manage hundreds of stations in large-scale projects. One of its main advantages is the ability to operate up to 14 sprinklers, or 20 in installations with decoders, a feature that is particularly useful for completing irrigation during half-time.

For sports venues and large complexes, Hunter 360 offers a superior level of management by integrating irrigation with other facility services on a single platform. Its map-based interface allows the precise location of controllers, valves, flow sensors and weather stations to be visualised, facilitating the monitoring and maintenance of large sites. The system can operate either in the cloud or entirely on-premises via a private network, an option of particular interest for facilities with high security requirements.

Hunter 360 also incorporates automation based on real-time weather data, flow monitoring and alarm management to detect incidents and prevent water wastage. Furthermore, it is compatible with an unlimited number of controllers and with Hunter’s large-scale irrigation solutions, making it an ideal platform for the comprehensive management of cities and sports complexes.

Flow monitoring detects leaks and anomalies in real time, whilst remote controls allow tests and maintenance tasks to be carried out directly from the pitch.