Many of our orchards, strawberry fields, tomato fields and pumpkin patches utilize drip (or trickle) irrigation technology to reduce water waste. This method of water application also reduces disease and bacterial pressures that can build with wet leaves from standard irrigation methods. Drip irrigation targets water application directly to the root zone where it can be most efficiently used by the plants. There is no run-off or waste of water resources when using drip irrigation. Drip irrigation also requires lower pressure pumps. This reduces energy usage and fuel to power larger, higher pressure irrigation methods.