Is Leaky Pipe affected by hard water?
All trickle watering systems can be effected by the salts (mostly Bicarbonates and Carbonates) that are present in “hard” water, and Leaky Pipe systems are not immune. However Leaky Pipe can be protected from suspended salts by the filters we recommend being fitted to the system. The remaining salts that stay in solution are not a problem until successive wet/dry cycles eventually encourage the salts to deposit on the outside of the Leaky Pipe. Instead of blocking many trickle pipes, this can slowly reduce the leak rate of Leaky Pipe. If the problem reduces the leak rate to an intolerable degree, the advantage of Leaky Pipe is that it can be treated to clear the problem. We recommend a higher pressure to burst the salts off, together with a gentle stretching of the pipes if desired. Alternatively, a chemical method is to dose low levels of Nitric Acid through the system. The acid will dissolve the encrustation and restore the leak rate. If done properly, the remaining solution will hav
