WaterSense Irrigation Partner Profile

WaterSense irrigation partners are at the forefront of water-efficient landscape irrigation. Read about one irrigation partner's efforts.

Valerie Silva, Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper Santa Rosa, Calf.

As the chair of a Homeowners' Association (HOA) Common Area Landscape Committee, Ms. Silva has been making good use of her Qualified Water-Efficient Landscaper (QWEL) certification, WaterSense partnership, and landscape design experience. Her community is situated in Northern California, where water is often short supply over the summer. Although her landscape committee has always had a focus on water conservation, they expanded their efforts with the passage of California Assembly Bill 1881. They soon realized that in addition to the designated common area, they must address both the beauty and continuity of the homeowners' private property landscaping at the same time.

To preserve the beauty of the neighborhood while complying with the legislation, the Landscape Committee worked with the Architectural Control Committee to redraft its architectural guidelines. These new guidelines provided a list of water-efficient plants that would be good replacements for lawn while providing the contiguous look between the properties required by the HOA's covenants, codes, and restrictions. In the common area, 10,000 square feet of turf were removed and replaced with a few large native trees and shrubs that do not require summertime watering once established. The approach was to maintain lawn only where it is used for recreation or community gatherings. Where turf remained, the original, poorly designed irrigation system is being retrofitted and upgraded to smart irrigation controllers.

The community expects to reduce annual landscape water use by at least 30 percent upon completion of the project. In addition to the ongoing water savings, the HOA-and many homeowners-took advantage of the City of Santa Rosa's rebate program, which provides rebates for turf removal and irrigation hardware upgrades. Though it was hard work, it was well worth the effort; the community is saving water while maintaining a beautifully landscaped community.

As a WaterSense partner and landscape designer, Ms. Silva always opts for water-conserving plants in her designs and California native plants whenever possible. She also makes it a point to provide her clients with a water use projection as part of the plan. This helps to steer them in the drought-tolerant direction when they face landscaping choices. WaterSense applauds Ms. Silva's efforts, which can be model for other community leaders.

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