Green Guru LLC — Irrigation & Landscape Lighting

(248) 790‑0571 8 AM - 5 PM (M-F) 9 AM - 2 PM (Sat)

Green Guru Blog

Why lake irrigation fails mid-season (intake restriction & algae season)

Surface-water irrigation often looks great in spring—then coverage weakens mid-season. This is the service-first checklist we use to confirm intake restriction before chasing heads and programming.

Intake restriction first Flow/pressure symptoms Filter sizing matters Fast triage checklist
Book Service Request a Free Inspection BIGFOOTr 40G vs 80G

Author: Green Guru LLC • Published on • Last edited on

Accuracy

Stop chasing symptoms

When flow drops upstream, heads and schedules look “wrong” even if the controller is fine.

Speed

Faster mid-season diagnosis

A repeatable intake checklist turns “mystery low coverage” into a clearer fix path.

Prevention

Better filter sizing

Right-sizing intake filtration can reduce the clean-out cycle during algae spikes.

Lake and pond irrigation often looks great in spring-then fails mid-season. Coverage weakens, zones recover slowly, and heads clog more often. In many cases, the controller is doing its job. The problem is upstream: intake restriction as algae and organics ramp up.

The mid-season pattern

How BIGFOOT® sizing shows up

40G setups

  • Clean-outs become more frequent when algae spikes
  • “It works after we clean it” cycle
  • Pressure/coverage drop appears “mysterious” at the heads

80G setups

  • More tolerance during algae season
  • Often longer intervals between clean-outs
  • Usually safer choice near 40 GPM demand

Fast triage checklist

  1. Check intake screen loading (algae mats)
  2. Confirm intake placement (off bottom; away from weed beds)
  3. Check suction-side joints for air leaks
  4. Confirm actual pump flow (not just nameplate expectations)
Next: Read the definitive guide with sizing, comparison table, and FAQ.
BIGFOOT® 40G vs 80G Guide