1) To replicate drip, there are two choices:  (a) Bring the arc width of an 18' Rain Bird VAN nozzle down to less than a ¼ circle. Then with the LittleValve, adjust down the throw distance to as little as six inches.   (b) Bring the arc width of a Hunter 10' VAN nozzle down to less than a ¼ circle. Then with the LittleValve, adjust down the throw distance to as little as twelve inches.  (c)  To water 2 plants at the same time, use a 5’ center-strip nozzle and locate the sprinkler between the 2 plants. (d) 5’ stream bubblers are also great for drip applications putting out about 1/4 gallon per minute at distances of about 9 inches diameter.   NOTE:  We recommend that you do not try to use throw distances LESS than what is described above.  In time, they will likely close down on you.

3) When using LittleValve replacement pop-up riser stems or Little Tuffy pop-up sprinklers in drip or micro-spray mode or when spraying at any distance under 6 feet, we strongly recommend inserting a LittleValve LVA ( Low Volume Application) filter screen under the LittleValve - tail first - into the bottom of the pop-up stem. Push screen into bottom of stem until it locks in place.  LVA screens are available from your LittleValve distributor in 25/ct bags. 

With LittleValve shrub adapters, couplings or riser extenders, use any manufacturer's filter screen, i.e., Rain Bird, Toro, Hunter, etc.  Place filter screen onto the opening of a Schedule 80 or cut-off riser, tail down into riser opening. Screen will not fall into riser opening.

4) With LittleValve parts and Little Tuffy Pop-up heads, even in drip and micro-spray mode, pressure regulation is never needed regardless of how high your pressure is because LittleValve sprinkler parts and Little Tuffy pop-up sprinklers are ALL pressure-regulating sprinklers or sprinkler parts.

5) Remember, each sprinkler head is individually controlled with LittleValve parts or Little Tuffy Pop-up sprinkler heads, so drips, micro-sprays and regular sprays can all be mixed on the same valve system, if desired.

6) One of the more flexible features of LittleValve products is the ability to have LittleValve 'Drip' or LittleValve 'Micro-Spray' on a pop-up sprinkler as easy as having it on a stationary fixed-height shrub adapter.

7) When mixing drip application with micro-sprays and/or regular sprays on the same valve, special low-flow valves are NOT necessary. BUT, when all heads are in drip mode, a low-flow valve may be necessary.

8) CALCULATIONS:
A. A Rain Bird 18’ VAN adjusted down to a 6” throw uses approximately .11 gpm or 6.5  gallons per hour.  A Hunter 10 ’ VAN adjusted down to a 12” throw uses approximately .083 gpm or 5.0 gallons per hour.

B. Micro-Spray tests with a Rain Bird ½ circle 8’ Flat nozzle adjusted down to 27” – 36”, the usage is .26 gpm or 15 – 16 gallons per hour ( approximately 1/4 gpm). At a 36” to 40” radius, the usage is .31 gpm or 18.4 gallons per hour (less than 1/3 gpm).