---
title: "Gravity Fed Drip Irrigation Calculator: PSI Is the Problem Nobody Warns You About"
canonical: "https://theyieldgrid.com/gravity-fed-drip-irrigation-calculator/"
model_id: "tyg-832"
model_version: "1.0.0"
last_reviewed: "2026-04-27T19:44:48"
reviewed_by: "Umer Hayiat"
---

# Gravity Fed Drip Irrigation Calculator: PSI Is the Problem Nobody Warns You About

> Canonical calculator: [https://theyieldgrid.com/gravity-fed-drip-irrigation-calculator/](https://theyieldgrid.com/gravity-fed-drip-irrigation-calculator/)

## What this calculator does

Home - Free Gardening Calculators & Tools - Gravity Fed Drip Irrigation Calculator: PSI Is the Problem Nobody Warns You About A gravity-fed drip system lives or dies on one number: the pressure at the emitter, measured in PSI. Not tank volume. Not tubing diameter. Not how full the barrel is when you start. The vertical drop from the water surface to the emitter is the only force pushing water through your system, and at 0.433 PSI per foot of elevation, that number gets small fast. A 55-gallon barrel sitting on a 3-foot cinder block stand produces roughly 2.6 PSI when completely full. Standard drip emitters from a hardware-store kit require 10 to 15 PSI to open. The math resolves itself immediately.

## Inputs

| Input | ID | Type | Unit | Range or choices | Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tank Bottom Elevation (ft) * | `gravdrip_tankElev` | number | ft | 0 to 200 | Yes |
| Water Level Inside Tank (ft) * | `gravdrip_waterLevel` | number | ft | 0.1 to 20 | Yes |
| Supply Pipe / Hose Length (ft) * | `gravdrip_pipeLength` | number | ft | 1 to 1000 | Yes |
| Emitter Minimum Operating PSI * | `gravdrip_emitterMin` | number | open-flow | 0 to 60 | Yes |

## Outputs

| Output ID | Default state |
|---|---|
| `gravdrip_results` | Results — Gravity Drip System Analysis — PSI at emitter 0 PSI 30 PSI Min PSI Step-by-Step Pressure Calculation Warnings & Standards Check Reference Table — Common Tank Setups vs. Your Inputs Setup Description Tank Elev (ft) Water (ft) Static PSI Est. Dynamic PSI Non-PC OK? |
| `gravdrip_out_primary` | — |
| `gravdrip_status_badge` |  |

## Formula and method

Total vertical head converted at 0.433 PSI per foot, reduced by pipe friction to reveal true emitter pressure. Show the calculation steps Step 1: Total Head (feet) Add the tank bottom elevation to the current water level inside the tank. Both are measured in feet. This is the total vertical distance from the free water surface down to the emitter field, which is the driving force for pressure. Total Head = Tank Bottom Elevation + Water Level Inside Tank Step 2: Static PSI Multiply total head by 0.433. This constant comes from the weight density of fresh water (62.4 lb/ft3) converted to PSI. One vertical foot of water exerts 0.433 pounds per square inch of pressure at the base. Static PSI = Total Head x 0.433 Step 3: Friction Loss (PSI) Multiply the supply pipe length by 0.002 PSI per foot. This simplified coefficient approximates the friction loss in 1/2-inch polyethylene drip tubing at gravity-flow rates (below 0.5 GPM total). The result is subtracted from static PSI. Friction Loss = Pipe Length x 0.002 Step 4: Dynamic PSI Subtract friction loss from static PSI. The result is the estimated pressure at the emitter. Dynamic PSI cannot be negative in practice; the tool displays 0 as the floor. Dynamic PSI = Static PSI - Friction Loss Step 5: Pass/Fail Check Compare dynamic PSI to the emitter minimum operating PSI. PASS if dynamic PSI exceeds the minimum by more than 2 PSI. MARGINAL if within 2 PSI above the minimum. FAIL if dynamic PSI is at or below the minimum. Rounding: All intermediate values are computed in full floating-point precision. Final displayed outputs are rounded to two decimal places. The pass/fail comparison uses unrounded values. Assumptions and Limits Friction coefficient is simplified: The value of 0.002 PSI/ft is calibrated for 1/2-inch polyethylene tubing at very low flow (less than 0.5 GPM total system flow). Larger diameter supply lines (3/4 inch or 1 inch) will have substantially lower friction loss. Systems with many emitters running simultaneously will have higher actual flow and therefore higher friction loss than this model predicts. Elevation must be measured vertically: The formula requires the true vertical rise. If a tank sits on a hillside and the emitters are at a different horizontal position, only the vertical component of the height difference contributes to pressure. The calculator cannot correct for sloped terrain geometry. Water density is assumed to be fresh water at standard temperature: The 0.433 PSI/ft constant applies to clean fresh water at approximately 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Warm water, mineral-rich water, or water with dissolved solids will have slightly different density but the difference is negligible for practical gravity irrigation purposes. Fittings and filter pressure drops are not modeled: Every coupling, elbow, valve, and inline filter in the system adds resistance. An inline mesh filter at the tank outlet can account for 0.1 to 0.5 PSI of additional loss depending on mesh rating and debris load. The model treats the supply line as a smooth continuous run. The tool evaluates pressure at a single point in time: As the tank drains, water level drops and dynamic PSI decreases proportionally. A system that shows PASS at full tank may show FAIL when the tank is 25% full. Users should run the calculator at multiple fill levels to understand the operating envelope. Emitter spacing density is not considered: A single emitter on a 50-foot run behaves very differently from 50 emitters on the same run. High emitter density increases total flow demand, which increases friction loss beyond what this simplified model captures. Use this calculator for preliminary go/no-go decisions, not for final system engineering on large installations. Input ranges are bounded: Tank elevation: 0 to 200 ft. Water level: 0.1 to 20 ft. Pipe length: 1 to 1000 ft. Emitter minimum PSI: 0 to 60 PSI. Entries outside these bounds trigger a validation error. For systems where friction loss is a significant factor, a dedicated pipe friction loss calculator can provide a more accurate loss estimate using full Hazen-Williams methodology across different pipe diameters and materials.

## Verified worked examples

### Scenario 1: Standard Rain Barrel on Cinder Blocks with PC Emitters

Tank Bottom Elevation: 3 ft Water Level Inside Tank: 3 ft (full barrel) Pipe / Hose Length: 30 ft Emitter Minimum Operating PSI: 10 PSI (pressure-compensating kit) Result: Total head = 6 ft. Static PSI = 6 x 0.433 = 2.60 PSI. Friction loss = 30 x 0.002 = 0.06 PSI. Dynamic PSI = 2.54 PSI. Status: FAIL. The barrel is full, the stand is at a typical height, and nothing comes out. The PC emitter's rubber diaphragm requires 10 PSI to open. Gravity is delivering 2.54 PSI. Replacing the emitter kit with Non-PC flag emitters rated for 0 to 2 PSI is the immediate fix, not raising the barrel.

### Scenario 2: IBC Tote on 5-Foot Stand with Non-PC Emitters

Tank Bottom Elevation: 5 ft Water Level Inside Tank: 3.7 ft (full 275-gallon tote) Pipe / Hose Length: 50 ft Emitter Minimum Operating PSI: 1 PSI Result: Total head = 8.7 ft. Static PSI = 8.7 x 0.433 = 3.77 PSI. Friction loss = 50 x 0.002 = 0.10 PSI. Dynamic PSI = 3.67 PSI. Status: PASS. The IBC tote on a proper elevated frame with correctly specified Non-PC emitters gives a comfortable working pressure with a 2.67 PSI margin above the 1 PSI minimum. Even at half tank capacity (water level 1.85 ft), dynamic PSI would be approximately 2.50 PSI, still above the minimum.

### Scenario 3: Hillside Tank at 15-Foot Elevation with Longer Run

Tank Bottom Elevation: 15 ft Water Level Inside Tank: 3.7 ft Pipe / Hose Length: 100 ft Emitter Minimum Operating PSI: 2 PSI Result: Total head = 18.7 ft. Static PSI = 18.7 x 0.433 = 8.10 PSI. Friction loss = 100 x 0.002 = 0.20 PSI. Dynamic PSI = 7.90 PSI. Status: PASS. A hillside cistern at significant elevation changes the math entirely. With 7.90 PSI delivered, this system could even run some Non-PC drip tape rated at 4 to 6 PSI, with margin to spare. The 100-foot run costs only 0.20 PSI in friction loss under the simplified model.

## Assumptions

Tank Bottom Elevation: 3 ft Water Level Inside Tank: 3 ft (full barrel) Pipe / Hose Length: 30 ft Emitter Minimum Operating PSI: 10 PSI (pressure-compensating kit) Result: Total head = 6 ft. Static PSI = 6 x 0.433 = 2.60 PSI. Friction loss = 30 x 0.002 = 0.06 PSI. Dynamic PSI = 2.54 PSI. Status: FAIL. The barrel is full, the stand is at a typical height, and nothing comes out. The PC emitter's rubber diaphragm requires 10 PSI to open. Gravity is delivering 2.54 PSI. Replacing the emitter kit with Non-PC flag emitters rated for 0 to 2 PSI is the immediate fix, not raising the barrel. Total vertical head converted at 0.433 PSI per foot, reduced by pipe friction to reveal true emitter pressure. Show the calculation steps Step 1: Total Head (feet) Add the tank bottom elevation to the current water level inside the tank. Both are measured in feet. This is the total vertical distance from the free water surface down to the emitter field, which is the driving force for pressure. Total Head = Tank Bottom Elevation + Water Level Inside Tank Step 2: Static PSI Multiply total head by 0.433. This constant comes from the weight density of fresh water (62.4 lb/ft3) converted to PSI. One vertical foot of water exerts 0.433 pounds per square inch of pressure at the base. Static PSI = Total Head x 0.433 Step 3: Friction Loss (PSI) Multiply the supply pipe length by 0.002 PSI per foot. This simplified coefficient approximates the friction loss in 1/2-inch polyethylene drip tubing at gravity-flow rates (below 0.5 GPM total). The result is subtracted from static PSI. Friction Loss = Pipe Length x 0.002 Step 4: Dynamic PSI Subtract friction loss from static PSI. The result is the estimated pressure at the emitter. Dynamic PSI cannot be negative in practice; the tool displays 0 as the floor. Dynamic PSI = Static PSI - Friction Loss Step 5: Pass/Fail Check Compare dynamic PSI to the emitter minimum operating PSI. PASS if dynamic PSI exceeds the minimum by more than 2 PSI. MARGINAL if within 2 PSI above the minimum. FAIL if dynamic PSI is at or below the minimum. Rounding: All intermediate values are computed in full floating-point precision. Final displayed outputs are rounded to two decimal places. The pass/fail comparison uses unrounded values. Assumptions and Limits Friction coefficient is simplified: The value of 0.002 PSI/ft is calibrated for 1/2-inch polyethylene tubing at very low flow (less than 0.5 GPM total system flow). Larger diameter supply lines (3/4 inch or 1 inch) will have substantially lower friction loss. Systems with many emitters running simultaneously will have higher actual flow and therefore higher friction loss than this model predicts. Elevation must be measured vertically: The formula requires the true vertical rise. If a tank sits on a hillside and the emitters are at a different horizontal position, only the vertical component of the height difference contributes to pressure. The calculator cannot correct for sloped terrain geometry. Water density is assumed to be fresh water at standard temperature: The 0.433 PSI/ft constant applies to clean fresh water at approximately 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Warm water, mineral-rich water, or water with dissolved solids will have slightly different density but the difference is negligible for practical gravity irrigation purposes. Fittings and filter pressure drops are not modeled: Every coupling, elbow, valve, and inline filter in the system adds resistance. An inline mesh filter at the tank outlet can account for 0.1 to 0.5 PSI of additional loss depending on mesh rating and debris load. The model treats the supply line as a smooth continuous run. The tool evaluates pressure at a single point in time: As the tank drains, water level drops and dynamic PSI decreases proportionally. A system that shows PASS at full tank may show FAIL when the tank is 25% full. Users should run the calculator at multiple fill levels to understand the operating envelope. Emitter spacing density is not considered: A single emitter on a 50-foot run behaves very differently from 50 emitters on the same run. High emitter density increases total flow demand, which increases friction loss beyond what this simplified model captures. Use this calculator for preliminary go/no-go decisions, not for final system engineering on large installations. Input ranges are bounded: Tank elevation: 0 to 200 ft. Water level: 0.1 to 20 ft. Pipe length: 1 to 1000 ft. Emitter minimum PSI: 0 to 60 PSI. Entries outside these bounds trigger a validation error. For systems where friction loss is a significant factor, a dedicated pipe friction loss calculator can provide a more accurate loss estimate using full Hazen-Williams methodology across different pipe diameters and materials. Friction coefficient is simplified: The value of 0.002 PSI/ft is calibrated for 1/2-inch polyethylene tubing at very low flow (less than 0.5 GPM total system flow). Larger diameter supply lines (3/4 inch or 1 inch) will have substantially lower friction loss. Systems with many emitters running simultaneously will have higher actual flow and therefore higher friction loss than this model predicts. Elevation must be measured vertically: The formula requires the true vertical rise. If a tank sits on a hillside and the emitters are at a different horizontal position, only the vertical component of the height difference contributes to pressure. The calculator cannot correct for sloped terrain geometry. Water density is assumed to be fresh water at standard temperature: The 0.433 PSI/ft constant applies to clean fresh water at approximately 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Warm water, mineral-rich water, or water with dissolved solids will have slightly different density but the difference is negligible for practical gravity irrigation purposes. Fittings and filter pressure drops are not modeled: Every coupling, elbow, valve, and inline filter in the system adds resistance. An inline mesh filter at the tank outlet can account for 0.1 to 0.5 PSI of additional loss depending on mesh rating and debris load. The model treats the supply line as a smooth continuous run. The tool evaluates pressure at a single point in time: As the tank drains, water level drops and dynamic PSI decreases proportionally. A system that shows PASS at full tank may show FAIL when the tank is 25% full. Users should run the calculator at multiple fill levels to understand the operating envelope. Emitter spacing density is not considered: A single emitter on a 50-foot run behaves very differently from 50 emitters on the same run. High emitter density increases total flow demand, which increases friction loss beyond what this simplified model captures. Use this calculator for preliminary go/no-go decisions, not for final system engineering on large installations. Input ranges are bounded: Tank elevation: 0 to 200 ft. Water level: 0.1 to 20 ft. Pipe length: 1 to 1000 ft. Emitter minimum PSI: 0 to 60 PSI. Entries outside these bounds trigger a validation error. For systems where friction loss is a significant factor, a dedicated pipe friction loss calculator can provide a more accurate loss estimate using full Hazen-Williams methodology across different pipe diameters and materials. Critical Warnings Pressure-Compensating emitters are incompatible with gravity systems in almost all residential setups. The rubber diaphragm inside a PC emitter is engineered to regulate flow by flexing against internal pressure. That mechanism requires a minimum of 10 to 15 PSI to open at all. Even an IBC tote on a 5-foot stand delivers roughly 3.7 PSI. Unless a tank is elevated 25 feet or more, PC emitters will not flow under gravity alone. The tool flags any emitter minimum of 10 PSI or higher as a likely PC emitter and issues a warning to switch to Non-PC open-flow emitters. Dynamic PSI is not constant. It declines throughout every watering cycle as water level in the tank drops. A 55-gallon barrel at 3-foot elevation delivers 2.60 PSI static when full. At the halfway point (1.5 ft of water remaining), static PSI drops to 1.95 PSI. If the system was marginal when full, it will fail before the tank is empty. Designing with a buffer above the emitter minimum, not at the minimum, is the required approach. Pipe length can eliminate a borderline system. A run of 200 feet at 0.002 PSI/ft costs 0.40 PSI in friction loss under the simplified model. On a low-head gravity system producing 3 PSI static, that penalty is significant. Longer runs, multiple inline fittings, and inline filters compound these losses. Short, direct supply lines are a design requirement, not a convenience. Soaker hose is not equivalent to drip tape for pressure calculations. Soaker hose operates by weeping through a porous wall and is extremely sensitive to even minor pressure variation along its length. Manufacturers typically specify 5 to 10 PSI for consistent output. Gravity systems below 5 PSI will produce highly uneven moisture distribution across a soaker hose run. Minimum Standards Any gravity-fed drip system must use Non-PC emitters with a rated minimum of 2 PSI or lower. Do not use emitters from standard residential drip kits without verifying the pressure rating on the product datasheet. Design for a minimum 2 PSI buffer above the emitter's minimum operating pressure at the lowest anticipated tank fill level, not at full capacity. Install a 150-mesh (100 micron) inline filter at the tank outlet. Low-pressure systems have insufficient velocity to flush sediment through emitter orifices. A clogged 0.5 GPH emitter under gravity pressure will not self-clear. Verify actual tank elevation with a tape measure from the ground to the tank bottom, not from memory or estimate. A 6-inch measurement error at low head translates to roughly 0.26 PSI, which can shift a result from PASS to FAIL. Competitor Trap: Most gravity drip guides online tell you to "raise the barrel higher" as the universal fix for low pressure. That advice is incomplete. The correct sequence is: first confirm whether your emitter type is physically compatible with gravity pressure at all. Raising a barrel from 3 feet to 6 feet takes static PSI from 2.60 to 3.46 PSI. If the emitter requires 10 PSI to open, a 3-foot platform increase changes nothing. The emitter selection decision comes before the elevation decision. The tool enforces this sequence by flagging PC emitter PSI ranges before any pressure comparison is made. For systems where gravity pressure cannot be made adequate and a pump is the correct next step, an irrigation pump sizing calculator can determine the pump head and flow requirements. For drip tape systems specifically, minimum flush velocity requirements are a separate standard covered by a drip tape flush velocity calculator . Any gravity-fed drip system must use Non-PC emitters with a rated minimum of 2 PSI or lower. Do not use emitters from standard residential drip kits without verifying the pressure rating on the product datasheet. Design for a minimum 2 PSI buffer above the emitter's minimum operating pressure at the lowest anticipated tank fill level, not at full capacity. Install a 150-mesh (100 micron) inline filter at the tank outlet. Low-pressure systems have insufficient velocity to flush sediment through emitter orifices. A clogged 0.5 GPH emitter under gravity pressure will not self-clear. Verify actual tank elevation with a tape measure from the ground to the tank bottom, not from memory or estimate. A 6-inch measurement error at low head translates to roughly 0.26 PSI, which can shift a result from PASS to FAIL. Competitor Trap: Most gravity drip guides online tell you to "raise the barrel higher" as the universal fix for low pressure. That advice is incomplete. The correct sequence is: first confirm whether your emitter type is physically compatible with gravity pressure at all. Raising a barrel from 3 feet to 6 feet takes static PSI from 2.60 to 3.46 PSI. If the emitter requires 10 PSI to open, a 3-foot platform increase changes nothing. The emitter selection decision comes before the elevation decision. The tool enforces this sequence by flagging PC emitter PSI ranges before any pressure comparison is made. For systems where gravity pressure cannot be made adequate and a pump is the correct next step, an irrigation pump sizing calculator can determine the pump head and flow requirements. For drip tape systems specifically, minimum flush velocity requirements are a separate standard covered by a drip tape flush velocity calculator . Residential drip kits sold at home improvement stores are designed for municipal water supply systems, which operate at 40 to 80 PSI. The emitters, micro-sprinklers, and pressure regulators in these kits presuppose municipal pressure. The pressure regulator installed in the kit header is specifically designed to reduce pressure down to 25 to 30 PSI from a higher supply, and it will choke a gravity system entirely if installed. Verify every component's minimum operating PSI before using it in a gravity-fed configuration. Fix: Purchase a drip kit explicitly marketed for low-pressure or gravity-fed applications, or assemble a custom system using Non-PC emitters with documented minimum operating pressures below 2 PSI. Not if "standard" means pressure-compensating emitters from a typical drip kit. A full 275-gallon IBC tote on a 5-foot stand delivers approximately 3.77 PSI static. That is sufficient for Non-PC emitters rated at 0 to 2 PSI but falls far short of the 10 to 15 PSI required to open a PC emitter's diaphragm. Emitter selection is the critical design decision, not tank size.

## Limitations and safety

Friction coefficient is simplified: The value of 0.002 PSI/ft is calibrated for 1/2-inch polyethylene tubing at very low flow (less than 0.5 GPM total system flow). Larger diameter supply lines (3/4 inch or 1 inch) will have substantially lower friction loss. Systems with many emitters running simultaneously will have higher actual flow and therefore higher friction loss than this model predicts. Elevation must be measured vertically: The formula requires the true vertical rise. If a tank sits on a hillside and the emitters are at a different horizontal position, only the vertical component of the height difference contributes to pressure. The calculator cannot correct for sloped terrain geometry. Water density is assumed to be fresh water at standard temperature: The 0.433 PSI/ft constant applies to clean fresh water at approximately 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Warm water, mineral-rich water, or water with dissolved solids will have slightly different density but the difference is negligible for practical gravity irrigation purposes. Fittings and filter pressure drops are not modeled: Every coupling, elbow, valve, and inline filter in the system adds resistance. An inline mesh filter at the tank outlet can account for 0.1 to 0.5 PSI of additional loss depending on mesh rating and debris load. The model treats the supply line as a smooth continuous run. The tool evaluates pressure at a single point in time: As the tank drains, water level drops and dynamic PSI decreases proportionally. A system that shows PASS at full tank may show FAIL when the tank is 25% full. Users should run the calculator at multiple fill levels to understand the operating envelope. Emitter spacing density is not considered: A single emitter on a 50-foot run behaves very differently from 50 emitters on the same run. High emitter density increases total flow demand, which increases friction loss beyond what this simplified model captures. Use this calculator for preliminary go/no-go decisions, not for final system engineering on large installations. Input ranges are bounded: Tank elevation: 0 to 200 ft. Water level: 0.1 to 20 ft. Pipe length: 1 to 1000 ft. Emitter minimum PSI: 0 to 60 PSI. Entries outside these bounds trigger a validation error. For systems where friction loss is a significant factor, a dedicated pipe friction loss calculator can provide a more accurate loss estimate using full Hazen-Williams methodology across different pipe diameters and materials. Critical Warnings Pressure-Compensating emitters are incompatible with gravity systems in almost all residential setups. The rubber diaphragm inside a PC emitter is engineered to regulate flow by flexing against internal pressure. That mechanism requires a minimum of 10 to 15 PSI to open at all. Even an IBC tote on a 5-foot stand delivers roughly 3.7 PSI. Unless a tank is elevated 25 feet or more, PC emitters will not flow under gravity alone. The tool flags any emitter minimum of 10 PSI or higher as a likely PC emitter and issues a warning to switch to Non-PC open-flow emitters. Dynamic PSI is not constant. It declines throughout every watering cycle as water level in the tank drops. A 55-gallon barrel at 3-foot elevation delivers 2.60 PSI static when full. At the halfway point (1.5 ft of water remaining), static PSI drops to 1.95 PSI. If the system was marginal when full, it will fail before the tank is empty. Designing with a buffer above the emitter minimum, not at the minimum, is the required approach. Pipe length can eliminate a borderline system. A run of 200 feet at 0.002 PSI/ft costs 0.40 PSI in friction loss under the simplified model. On a low-head gravity system producing 3 PSI static, that penalty is significant. Longer runs, multiple inline fittings, and inline filters compound these losses. Short, direct supply lines are a design requirement, not a convenience. Soaker hose is not equivalent to drip tape for pressure calculations. Soaker hose operates by weeping through a porous wall and is extremely sensitive to even minor pressure variation along its length. Manufacturers typically specify 5 to 10 PSI for consistent output. Gravity systems below 5 PSI will produce highly uneven moisture distribution across a soaker hose run. Minimum Standards Any gravity-fed drip system must use Non-PC emitters with a rated minimum of 2 PSI or lower. Do not use emitters from standard residential drip kits without verifying the pressure rating on the product datasheet. Design for a minimum 2 PSI buffer above the emitter's minimum operating pressure at the lowest anticipated tank fill level, not at full capacity. Install a 150-mesh (100 micron) inline filter at the tank outlet. Low-pressure systems have insufficient velocity to flush sediment through emitter orifices. A clogged 0.5 GPH emitter under gravity pressure will not self-clear. Verify actual tank elevation with a tape measure from the ground to the tank bottom, not from memory or estimate. A 6-inch measurement error at low head translates to roughly 0.26 PSI, which can shift a result from PASS to FAIL. Competitor Trap: Most gravity drip guides online tell you to "raise the barrel higher" as the universal fix for low pressure. That advice is incomplete. The correct sequence is: first confirm whether your emitter type is physically compatible with gravity pressure at all. Raising a barrel from 3 feet to 6 feet takes static PSI from 2.60 to 3.46 PSI. If the emitter requires 10 PSI to open, a 3-foot platform increase changes nothing. The emitter selection decision comes before the elevation decision. The tool enforces this sequence by flagging PC emitter PSI ranges before any pressure comparison is made. For systems where gravity pressure cannot be made adequate and a pump is the correct next step, an irrigation pump sizing calculator can determine the pump head and flow requirements. For drip tape systems specifically, minimum flush velocity requirements are a separate standard covered by a drip tape flush velocity calculator .

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## Provenance

- Model ID: `tyg-832`
- Model version: `1.0.0`
- Reviewed by: Umer Hayiat
- Page modified: 2026-04-27T19:44:48
- Runtime SHA-256: `c4125cce7ae1f2f546e1d6ad30d2128e82cbbfdf9fcbc158332a6f7b13c2afd9`

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