1. San Antonio Botanical Gardens Irrigation System Team: Lindsay Birt Eric Fisher Lisa Porta

2. Design Project  Presented by: Calvin Finch, SAWSCalvin Finch, SAWS Paul Cox, City of San AntonioPaul Cox, City of San Antonio  Initial Problem Statement: “Redesign and expand the current irrigation system in order to increase the efficiency with minimum impact on the beds and plant material and consider the conservation of water.”  Other teams involved

3. DOQQ Picture from San Antonio Garden

4. General Description of the Garden  Surface area of 33 acres  Breakdown “Native area” “Native area” With a 1 acre artificial lakeWith a 1 acre artificial lake Flower Beds Flower Beds Conservatory Conservatory

5. Constraints on the Irrigation System  Low maintenance  Water conservation efficient  Safe layout (open to the public)  Moderate cost  Existing walkways and other constructions

6. Water Conservation Issues  Water supplied from Edwards Aquifer  City Water regulations  Impact on irrigation system design

7. Outline of Procedures  Site Visit Observations Current irrigation systemsCurrent irrigation systems Water conservationWater conservation  New problem statement  Research and results New irrigation systemNew irrigation system Management of water consumptionManagement of water consumption  Solutions considered  Plan of action

8. Site Visit Observations  Current Irrigation Systems in beds: Poor condition Poor condition No existing blueprint No existing blueprint Major leaks – not detected soon enough, causes plant decay Major leaks – not detected soon enough, causes plant decay Mixture of different equipment in same plant bed Mixture of different equipment in same plant bed Hand watered beds Hand watered beds

9. Irrigation Systems Formal GardenJapanese Gardens

10. Irrigation Systems Formal Garden Garden for the Blind

11. Site Visit Observations  Water problems: Water loss due to leaks in irrigation system Water loss due to leaks in irrigation system Four inch meter supplies the six gardens Four inch meter supplies the six gardens Same meter provides filling water to the lakeSame meter provides filling water to the lake Water leakage near the greenhouse Water leakage near the greenhouse Water flow into storm sewer Water flow into storm sewer  Impossible to measure water used for irrigation

12. Garden hose filling the lake

13. Water leaks near the Greenhouses

14. Aerial Picture from Gardens in 2000 Leak

15. Reconsideration of Design Scope  Untouched areas Native area is left natural (need no irrigation) Native area is left natural (need no irrigation) Conservatory has a fairly new system Conservatory has a fairly new system  New irrigation system will be designed old one will be discarded old one will be discarded  Water conservation issue as a separate problem

16. Break down the system into 6 parts  Japanese Garden  Garden for the Blind  Rose Garden  Sacred Garden  Old-Fashioned Garden  Formal Beds

17. Garden Layout

18. Rose garden Sacred Garden Old- fashioned Garden Formal Garden

19. Japanese Garden Roughly 75’ by 82’ Reflection Pool Hut Extreme Topography Changes

20. Garden for the Blind Distinctive texture and fragrances Raised beds Fountain

21. Sacred Garden Plants found in Bible Fountain

22. Formal Beds Very Seasonal

23. Old-fashioned Garden Huge tree in middle Various height of shrubs

24. Rose Garden Example of special plant needs

25. Garden Layout  Different sections with different needs. Plant Needs Plant Needs Soil Types Soil Types  Garden Specifics Trees Trees Paths Paths Foliage Heights Foliage Heights

26. Water Consumption for 4 inch meter in 2003

27. Water Losses  Evaporation of the lake 1.07 million gallons per year 1.07 million gallons per year  Lake on higher elevation, so loses water through runoff  Water leakage near the greenhouse (1 gal/min) (1 gal/min) 518,400 gal/year 518,400 gal/year  Irrigation runoff

28. How to save water ?  Repair leaks by installing a new system  Equipment used to save water in the irrigation system: Master valves Master valves Check valves Check valves  Repair major line burst next to the greenhouses  Put a separate meter on lake filling  Irrigation restriction to certain hours

29. Water Conservation Solutions 1. Water recycle 2. Storm water recapture 3. Rainfall water recapture 4. Irrigation runoff recapture

30. Water Recycling  Advantages: Recycling program already in place in San Antonio Recycling program already in place in San Antonio Good use of city water supplied Good use of city water supplied  Disadvantages: High salt concentration of water and poor toleration by plants High salt concentration of water and poor toleration by plants Expensive Expensive

31. Storm Water Recapture  Advantages: Captures surplus water Captures surplus water  Disadvantages: Facility needs to be attached to main city recapture system Facility needs to be attached to main city recapture system Garden is not close to it Garden is not close to it

32. Rainfall Water Recapture  Advantages: On site facility On site facility Estimation from greenhouse roofs recapture: Estimation from greenhouse roofs recapture: 269,299 gal/year 269,299 gal/year  Disadvantages: Not enough water recaptured Not enough water recaptured Need a system to pump water uphill to other facilities Need a system to pump water uphill to other facilities  Alternative use: Supply greenhouses Supply greenhouses

33. Importance of design  Performance of the irrigation system Optimization of system for each plant bed Optimization of system for each plant bed Even distribution of water in plant beds Even distribution of water in plant beds Radio controlled/ remote controlled system Radio controlled/ remote controlled system Scheduling Scheduling Remove water leaks Remove water leaks More water available for the plants More water available for the plants Keep track of water consumption Keep track of water consumption

34. Data to be Collected  Plant survey  Dimensional Analysis  Elevation of the terrain with GPS system  Environmental conditions

35. Next Steps Considered  Site Visit  Horticulture Department  Visit Houston Botanical Gardens  RainCAD simulation  Scheduling  Solicit sponsors  Garden showcase