Why They Use Rainbird Sprinkler Systems At The Olympics

When the city of Athens, Greece won the right to host the 2004 Olympic Games, they had a lot at stake. A lot of people were saying the stadiums wouldn't be ready on time, and that Athens wasn't fit to host the Olympics.

As the first city to host the modern Olympics in 1896, and as the birthplace of the ancient Games, Athens had a lot to live up to.

Every detail had to be just right, from the traffic management right down to the plastic chairs in the stadiums. So when it came time to choose an irrigation and sprinkler system for the stadiums, the organisers had to have 100% reliable technology.

The organizers of the Games chose Rainbird sprinkler systems to make their grounds lush and green.

The Difference Between Drip Irrigation & Sprinklers

Before we go any further, let's first clarify the difference between drip irrigation systems and sprinkler systems.

Drip irrigation systems allows water to drip (hence the name drip irrigation systems) directly onto the tree trunks or plant stems in your garden. This saves massive amounts of water, as no water is lost on areas that do not need it, such as concrete paths, driveways, and so on. Drip irrigation systems ensure that the water is used almost 100% effectively.

Sprinkler systems, on the other hand, spray water less discriminately around your garden. They do not direct water as efficiently as drip irrigation systems, although you can set them up to focus on certain sections of your garden.

Some very good products in both categories are made by Rainbird. Apart from being used at the Olympics, Rainbird sprinkler systems are also used at Shea Stadium in New York.

Professional groundskeepers rate Rainbird systems very highly. This is partly because Rainbird have patented something called "RainCurtain technology". This ensures that the sprinkler heads spray a very even distribution of water around your garden. If you're looking for your lawn and plants to have no yellow or dry spots, Rainbird sprinklers just may be for you.

Environmental Benefits of Water-Saving Sprinklers

The environmental benefits of using drip irrigation or water-saving sprinkler systems are immense. For example, Microsoft uses Rainbird drip irrigation systems at their corporate campus in Redmond, Washington. They estimate that they are able to make a 35% saving in water use.

A word of warning: there are cheap sprinkler systems out there that will save you a lot of money. However, if you're keen to have a great-looking garden with many water savings along the way, Rainbird sprinkler systems are among the best in the business.