 Water
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
 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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