What is the consequence of excessive pressure in an irrigation system?

Excessive pressure in an irrigation system can lead to fogging and misting at the head. This occurs because the high pressure causes water to be atomized into tiny droplets instead of being delivered in a controlled manner. When pressure increases beyond the intended level for a particular sprinkler or emitter, the design of the head may not function effectively, resulting in a spray pattern that is inefficient and potentially wasteful. The mist produced can drift away from the desired application area, reducing the overall effectiveness of watering and potentially causing uneven coverage and water loss through evaporation or wind dispersion.

While excessive pressure can also cause other issues, such as damage to components and inefficient operation, the primary immediate visual consequence seen at the heads is indeed the fogging effect, which can significantly affect the performance of the irrigation system.