Emergency Irrigation Service: When Water Becomes the Problem, RR Irrigation Is the Solution
When disaster strikes, water can either be the problem—or the solution. However, you can read on to find out how RR Irrigation responded immediately to provide emergency irrigation service that helped save the New York Botanical Garden.
This June, the New York Botanical Garden faced a critical irrigation emergency after a 36-inch water main ruptured 15 feet underground. The break, located beneath an overpass in the Bronx, flooded nearby apartments and parking lots and—more urgently—cut off the garden-wide irrigation supply. Timing was critical.
A Crisis Below, and a Heatwave Above is an irrigation emergency
The Garden’s irrigation system typically draws from a 48-inch, 110-year-old low-pressure transmission pipe. This pipe runs parallel to the failed main. Due to the pipes’ close proximity, the New York Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) was forced to shut off both lines during the repair process. This action turned out to be more complicated than expected. What was supposed to be a quick fix, became an irrigation emergency—right as temperatures soared into the triple digits.
With 110 acres of delicate plant collections at risk, time was of the essence. And, RR Irrigation was there to provide emergency irrigation service.
RR Irrigation Springs Into Action–Expert problem solving.
As a trusted leader in New Jersey commercial irrigation services, RR Irrigation was called in to provide a emergency Irrigation service solution under intense conditions. Working closely with NYDEP:
- Our team removed a 6” fire hydrant
- Our team built a flange assembly which is a strong, sealed connection point that joins two sections of pipe together. In this case, It allowed us to safely and securely connect our temporary water line to the city’s hydrant system. Think of it as the custom adapter that made the whole emergency irrigation setup possible.
- We ran 320 feet of pipeline up and over a 10-foot retaining wall to reach the pump station.
- Our technicians installed custom piping inside the pump house, connecting directly to the intake pipe that feeds the irrigation system.
This was no small fix. The Bronx’s water pressure hovers around 45 psi, so a powerful boost was required in this irrigation emergency.
We deployed a four-pump station system:
- (4) 40-horsepower booster pumps
- (1) 7.5-horsepower pressure maintenance pump
Even with the best efforts, the temporary supply can only support about one-third of the garden’s typical water needs—roughly 1,600 gallons per minute during peak times. To conserve water, the Garden shifted to a rationed watering schedule, including daytime irrigation for some areas. This is temporary.
Nature Can’t Wait—Neither Do We
As the main line repair continues, we’ re standing by to ensure the Garden’s living collections are protected.
Our team proudly helped preserve one of the most iconic botanical spaces in the country—especially under such high-stakes, high-pressure conditions. It was meaningful to us. And personal.
Whether it’s maintaining large-scale public landscapes like the NYBG or installing smart sprinkler systems in central New Jersey, We deliver the same level of commitment and precision to every project. Here in Central NJ and beyond.
Looking for reliable, expert irrigation system installation or emergency repair in New Jersey or the Tri-State area? Contact RR Irrigation—where expertise meets urgency, and results speak for themselves.
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