June, 2008
STOP MONEY GOING DOWN THE DRAIN
By Bob Poole
Innovations in the irrigation industry are now making it easier for building owners and managers to
maintain healthy landscapes.
With some simple common-sense practices and the use of new technology, existing irrigation systems can be upgraded to lower your water bill, reduce run off and eliminate waste.
July is Smart Irrigation Month and to highlight the occasion, the Alberta Chapter of the Irrigation Association has issued a number of water-saving tips:
- Inspect your system monthly to check for leaks and broken or clogged heads
- Adjust sprinkler heads to remove obstructions which might prevent sprinklers from distributing water evenly
- Keep water off pavement and structures
- Consider ‘smart’ technology such as weather or soil moisture controllers, which evaluate climate and soil conditions and then automatically adjust the irrigation schedule to meet the specific needs of the landscape
- Water only when needed. Saturate root zones and let the soil dry. Watering too much results in shallow roots, weed growth, disease and fungus
- Consider low drip irrigation for plant beds, gardens, trees and shrubs
- Water at the optimum time when the sun is low or down, winds are calm and temperatures are cool – between the evening and early morning – to reduce evaporation
- Hire a professional to conduct an irrigation audit to ensure all areas are being watered evenly
- Schedule each zone in your irrigation system to take into account such matters as the type of sprinkler, sun or shade, and soil type
- Lawns only require only one inch of water per week. But studies have shown that many in-ground irrigation systems in Calgary are typically programmed to water more than 4.5 times than required
- Adjust your program to reflect current weather and landscape conditions to ensure water does not run off your property
- Even if an irrigation contractor maintains your system, know how to turn off the system yourself. This means you won’t water in the rain or during times of water restrictions
These sites are audited by a certified landscape-irrigation auditor who determines if the system is using water wisely.
Being certified as a Water Managed Site can help achieve a 20% to 40% saving in water costs, plus it allows businesses to water when others are subject to tight restrictions.
Bob Poole is a partner in ExactET Systems Inc., a Calgary-based weather-smart irrigation company. He can be reached at 888-2467.
