Promoting Efficient Irrigation in Your Community Allison Hogge, U.S. EPA Stephanie Thornton, U.S. EPA

Agenda  Welcome & Introduction  Program Update WaterSense activity in the landscape irrigation sector Resources on efficient irrigation  Community Outdoor Water Conservation Efforts Dan Muelrath, City of Santa Rosa, CA  Conservation Efforts by Irrigation Professionals Mark Brotton, Living Water Irrigation and Landscape, Santa Fe, NM Bill Kabaker, Precise Landscape, Sherman Oaks, CA  Discussion: Opportunities to Work Together

Outdoor Water Use  Outdoor use is estimated to be about 30 percent of residential use, or approximately 7.8 billion gallons per day, with the largest component being used for irrigation.  Up to 50 percent of water applied by irrigation systems is lost to wind, evaporation, improper system design, installation, or maintenance.

Improving Irrigation Water Efficiency  Goal 1 - Increase Awareness of Water-Efficient Products and Services:  Make water efficiency an attribute of choice Partner with national and local organizations to promote water efficiency  Goal 2 - Improve the Performance of Irrigation Systems:  Promote good design, installation, and O&M of irrigation systems Promote the use of water-efficient irrigation equipment  Goal 3 - Promote Water-Efficient Landscaping:  Work with existing partners and other EPA programs to address efficient landscape design, plant selection and soil amendments  Current Activities: Label certification programs Partner with certified professionals to advance water-efficient irrigation Set specifications for water-efficient irrigation system components

Irrigation Product Labeling  WaterSense is researching weather- and sensor- based irrigation control technologies.  WaterSense is awaiting a revised test protocol from SWAT, a coalition of utilities and irrigation manufacturers.  WaterSense hopes to label irrigation control technologies in 2009.

Certification Programs for Irrigation Professionals  WaterSense currently labels certification programs for irrigation professionals that emphasize water-efficient techniques and technologies.  Programs must meet WaterSense criteria, which include an experiential requirement, an exam with proper quality assurance/quality control procedures, a set renewal period with required continuing education, and testing knowledge such as: Plant/soil/water relationships System design and scheduling for water efficiency Recent innovations and technology developments

WaterSense Irrigation Partners  Five certification programs have earned the WaterSense label: IA’s Certified Irrigation Designer (CID) IA’s Certified Irrigation Contractor (CIC) IA’s Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor (CLIA) IA’s Certified Golf Irrigation Auditor (CGIA) North Coast Water Conservation Group’s Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL)  Irrigation professionals may become WaterSense partners upon completing or renewing with a WaterSense labeled certification program.

Irrigation Partner Credentials  Only a small percentage of irrigation contractors are certified.  These certified professionals represent the best contractors in the landscape irrigation industry.  WaterSense hopes to increase this by driving the market for certified professionals.  Directory on the WaterSense Web site:

WaterSense Irrigation Partners by State (as of April 2008)

Water-Efficient Irrigation in Your Community Utilities:  Promote WaterSense irrigation partners: To your customers Work with the groups who hire/specify irrigation professionals in your area  Educate customers on water-efficient irrigation using WaterSense materials.  Promote Smart Irrigation Month.  Host an IA certification exam. Contact Sherrie Schulte, IA Certifications Manager: or (703) How can you use WaterSense to promote efficient outdoor water use?

Water-Efficient Irrigation in Your Community Irrigation Professionals:  Distribute bill stuffers, brochures, checklist for a water-efficient system, or other materials to customers or in bid packets.  Place WaterSense partner logo on your business card and Web site in conjunction with your name to distinguish yourself from other contractors.  Tell WaterSense about what you are doing to practice/promote efficiency.  Encourage colleagues to become certified and become WaterSense partners.  Educate customers on the importance of water-efficiency in the landscape.  Work with customers to understand and develop irrigation schedules that meet local watering restrictions.

Water Efficiency Resources  Promotional & Irrigation Tool Kits: Provide materials to educate customers, potential customers & the general public on water- efficient irrigation Promote WaterSense as a brand Include a CD with modifiable electronic files, as well as hard copy samples

Outreach Materials Grass Can Be Greener brochure Watering Can Be Efficient brochure Bill stuffers Checklist for a Water- Efficient System Sticker/Window cling templates Outreach materials include:

Promote Smart Irrigation Month in July Tools:  Smart Irrigation Month Web site:  WaterSense Web site: Promotion Ideas:  Post the Smart Irrigation Month logo on your Web site; link to the IA’s or WaterSense’s page.  Print bill stuffers educating customers on water-efficient irrigation.  Issue a press release or public service announcement.  Provide tips on watering efficiently.  Hold a forum or workshop promoting smart irrigation in your community.

Daniel Muelrath Water Conservation Program Coordinator City of Santa Rosa, CA “Reducing Landscape Water Use through Conservation”

Agenda Landscape water use and peak demand Problems associated with peak demand Water conservation’s role in reducing peak demand Landscape/peak reduction programs Future of conservation

What is peak demand? The annual fluctuation driven by irrigation and some water- based cooling processes.

Why are we concerned with Peak Demand and Landscape Water Use? Wasted water Higher energy cost during peak pumping time Many components of the water distribution system must be designed to accommodate the highest flow months Pumps Reservoirs / Tanks Pipelines Call for conservation from our Wholesale Water Agency Dynamic requirements due to using natural rivers/waterways to convey water to collection wells

Water Conservation’s role in reducing peak water demand Reduce peak water consumption on the City's water system by: Informing customers and landscape contractors of water saving practices and technologies Providing incentives to reduce site water needs Providing incentives to improve efficiencies Knowledge/ Behaviors Improve Efficiencies Reduce Demand

Current Landscape / Peak Reduction Informational Programs Conservation Website: Conservation Hotline: M – F 8am to 5pm

Current Landscape / Peak Reduction Informational Programs (cont.) Water Use Efficiency Calculator

Current Landscape / Peak Reduction Informational Programs (cont.) Data fills in if account number is entered

Current Landscape / Peak Reduction Informational Programs (cont.) Distribution Centers – Literature & Hardware Four City locations Twenty nurseries and irrigation vendors throughout the City (literature only)

Current Landscape / Peak Reduction Informational Programs (cont.) Water Awareness Month Activities Proclamation Water Smart Expo Water Conservation Awards School Poster Contest Downtown Markets

Current Landscape / Peak Reduction Informational Programs (cont.) Water-Wise Gardening Series (residential) Three part series that focuses on: Low Water Use Plants, Irrigation Efficiency and Drip Irrigation Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (contractors) To train landscapers on efficient water management in the landscape. Topics include: 7.Irrigation scheduling and programming 8.Valve and controller troubleshooting 9.New technologies 10.Selling water management to customers 1.Water supply 2.Irrigation systems 3.Irrigation efficiency 4.Soils 5.Plants 6.Irrigation audits 2 nd program to be recognized by the EPA WaterSense program as an Irrigation Auditor training program QWEL can be used by your local Utility too!!!

Current Landscape / Peak Reduction Rebate and Incentive Programs Water budget based rates using local ET Green Exchange Program Cash for grass Irrigation Upgrades Water Watch Patrol Water Efficient Landscape Policy Residential “Check-up”

Current Landscape / Peak Reduction Rebate and Incentive Programs Large Landscape Irrigation Audits Water wise gardening CD Water use efficiency on billing statement Irrigation efficiency rebates Service split incentive

Future of Water Conservation Peak Reduction and outdoor uses Irrigation Advances: SMART Controllers Soil moisture sensors Low precipitation rate sprinklers Flow sensors shut-off Landscape industry water awareness & training New building standards Graywater Rain Water Harvesting Legislation California AB 2717/1881 California AB 2175

Conservation Efforts by Irrigation Professionals Mark Brotton, Living Water Irrigation and Landscape Bill Kabaker, Precise Landscape

Facilitated Discussion: Working Together Allison Hogge, U.S. EPA Stephanie Thornton, U.S. EPA

Discussion Questions  Have you collaborated with irrigation professionals/utilities to promote efficiency irrigation in your community?  How have these partnerships been structured?  What are some of the challenges, barriers, success stories you have encountered?  How can utilities and irrigation professionals better collaborate?

More Information Web site: Helpline: (866) WTR-SENS ( )