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July is Smart Irrigation MonthWater Efficiently for Smart Irrigation Month!


July is Smart Irrigation Month. Did you know that more than 50 percent of water used to irrigate lawns and gardens is wasted? The amount of water wasted by the average homeowner in just one year could be enough to fill three backyard swimming pools!

Properly watering your landscape can result in significant water savings. To make it easy, WaterSense has gathered expert advice from certified irrigation professionals across the country and compiled several tips to help you use water wisely.

Expert Advice on Watering Wisely

WaterSense irrigation partners are certified irrigation designers, contractors, and auditors who represent the most highly-qualified professionals in the landscape irrigation industry. Subscribers to the WaterSense Current, an electronic newsletter, were asked to e-mail WaterSense their questions to pose to the experts about how to care for a landscape in a water-efficient manner.

Q: How can I check to see if my irrigation system is applying water uniformly? I'm concerned that some spray heads have been damaged, but how can I tell which ones?

A: I would suggest checking the operation of your irrigation system every 2 – 3 months. This will include looking for water leaks, spray heads popping up, obstructions within the water outlets, and of course making sure that your zones are even coming on. Also, some water utilities offer free irrigation audits, or people can call a WaterSense auditor partner for an audit. Just go to the directory of WaterSense irrigation partners to find one of these professionals in your area.

- Glenn Bowlin, CID, CIC, CLIA, CGIA

More green, less water. To stay at the forefront of water-efficient technologies and practices, more than 450 certified irrigation professionals have joined WaterSense. Visit the directory of WaterSense irrigation partners to find a WaterSense partner in your area.Q: I'm converting a large portion of my landscaping from grass to plant beds and want to use less water. Would you recommend drip irrigation?

A: Drip and micro irrigation are among the most efficient
ways to irrigate your planting beds. There are many factors to
consider when installing drip or micro irrigation including the
soil type, slope, plant types, whether or not you frequently
re-plant the beds (such as with annual beds), and whether or
not you can tolerate “seeing” some of the equipment. It is also
wise to work with an irrigation professional who is trained
and experienced in the design, installation, and maintenance
of drip irrigation equipment. Look for an Irrigation Association
Certified Irrigation Contractor or Designer who is also an
EPA WaterSense partner.

- Timothy Malooly, CID, CIC, CLIA

Q: I'm hearing the term "ET" out there. Can you explain this term and how I can use ET to schedule my site’s irrigation?

A: Evapotranspiration, or "ET," is the combination of water that is lost from the soil through evaporation and through transpiration from plants as a part of their metabolic processes. "Reference evapotranspiration" or "ETo" is simply the amount of water needed by a particular plant, in this case, well-maintained, well-watered turf grass or shrubs. Without a weather station on your site, you probably would not get the proper ET values for your site scheduling. If you would like to use daily ET values for your irrigation system, I would suggest buying a weather-based irrigation controller. These are readily available at any local irrigation distributor.

- Glenn Bowlin, CID, CIC, CLIA, CGIA

Q: I have a timer on my irrigation system, but I've heard about new technology that uses weather or soil moisture to determine when to water. Would you recommend these?

A: Yes, new irrigation “timers,” called smart controllers, are now available! These new irrigation controllers are one of the steps toward making your irrigation system more efficient and saving you time and money while still enjoying a healthy landscape. Some new smart irrigation controllers use ET to adjust your irrigation system watering schedule every day to help you water more accurately and less wastefully. Smart controllers are available right now through your irrigation installer or irrigation maintenance company. They are affordable and are increasingly promoted by government agencies and responsible irrigation professionals as one of the major steps toward a more efficient irrigation system. Check with your local water department to learn if there are any rebate programs or other incentives to install a smart controller.

- Timothy Malooly, CID, CIC, CLIA

To learn more about how WaterSense irrigation partners are making a difference, visit the Irrigation Partner Profiles. To find a certified professional for your landscape irrigation project, visit the Directory of WaterSense Irrigation Partners.

Smart Irrigation Resources

 

 
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