For years, many contractors avoided the issue of how much water is used in landscape irrigation systems. Some didn’t understand the magnitude, and some wouldn’t acknowledge it and just stuck to the industry line that “an automatic system will water more efficiently than hand-watering.” Many viewed water usage and resulting restrictions as the greatest threat to our industry (with understandable justification) and were unwilling to be a part of the dialogue and only let “the other side” create the talking points. Many were reluctant to step out and showcase the results of their work with proper landscape water management to create a sustainable business, but in many areas, this is rapidly changing.
The best practices of proper water management support sustainable business strategies.
Water availability for landscape use is becoming an issue almost universally, and changes in weather patterns are making the supply of water from rainfall very unpredictable. If it isn’t the total amount of water available for landscape use, it is the ability or more commonly the cost of building the infrastructure needed to deliver the water for that use that is the issue. In Massachusetts, where I have been involved in water policy affecting our industry for many years, we are lucky to typically have adequate natural precipitation and storage capacity to support efficient water use in the landscape. However, mandatory water restrictions are commonly in place throughout the season because of older delivery systems, the huge cost of upgrading and managing them, and policies rooted in preserving streamflow and fish populations. Unfortunately, my experience has been that most of the time, the landscape irrigation industry has had a limited voice at the table when these policies are created, resulting in restrictions that can be problematic for the industry and many times detrimental to the landscape. Many of the decision-makers are unaware of the tools and successes we have in managing landscape water use and choose restrictions as the easy solution.
When counting gallons, landscape irrigation systems use a staggering amount of water. It doesn’t take many acres of turfgrass in peak season to require millions of gallons of water per month from either rainfall or supplemental irrigation to stay healthy and functional. This reality is starting to be embraced as an opportunity instead of something we don’t talk about. This opportunity, of course, is in water savings because of better management of these systems. As much as the number of gallons is scary, the savings which can also be measured in millions of gallons can be even more impressive, and we are starting to talk comfortably about that. Most of us that have experience managing irrigation systems know that most landscape irrigation systems in many areas are very wasteful and even simple tools like regular inspections and simple, functioning rain sensors result in huge water savings.
In many markets, the number of newly installed systems has either leveled off or declined, and the greatest opportunities for contractors are from existing systems. The concept of landscape water management is becoming more widely accepted by our industry (take a look at the Irrigation Association’s Landscape Irrigation Best Management Practices at irrigation.org/bmp) and more businesses are making this their core focus.
The best practices of proper water management support sustainable business strategies. For example, regular system inspections by qualified staff for recurring revenue, proactive management for system upgrades and renovations create a healthy pipeline, and regular communication with the system supports the need for our connected controllers and sensors. This would be expected in areas where water is scarcest, but it is happening everywhere. These companies focus their marketing efforts on showing their existing clients, potential clients and their market that following these best practices results in significant savings and a healthy landscape.
Regardless of the industry, it is always better for a business to be positioned as part of the solution and not part of the problem. In our industry, we have a threat that is real. Whether the larger problem is the actual supply of water available to us for landscape use or the perception that our irrigation systems are wasteful and shouldn’t be using potable water, we need to be discussing and showing how we can solve the problem. Make sure your brand and your message communicate what you can do to use water efficiently. Showcase your successes with sites that use less water and look amazing. Spread the word through social media and your networks. Be part of the solution.
