What contractors should be watching now

For landscape irrigation contractors, policy is not just background noise. It increasingly affects what products are available, how projects are designed, what customers ask for, and how communities respond to drought and long-term water challenges. When policy is done well, it can meet customer needs and deliver water-saving solutions that work. When it is done poorly, it can create confusion, compliance problems and unintended consequences for contractors trying to do the job right.

At the federal level, WaterSense remains one of the most important programs. For contractors, the value is practical. WaterSense gives the industry a nationally recognized, voluntary platform for water-efficient products and certified professionals. That helps when talking with customers, utilities and local officials about why efficient irrigation products and qualified professionals are essential. Whether a contractor is selecting products, helping a customer compare options or marketing themselves as a certified irrigation professional listed in WaterSense’s directory, the program provides a trusted reference point.

The Irrigation Association used its recent Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C., to meet directly with WaterSense staff about where the relationship can continue to grow, what may be ahead and where further dialogue may be needed to make sure water-saving goals work also for customers and communities that depend on healthy greenspaces. The IA also met with members of Congress to reinforce continued support for the program, including federal funding.

At the state level, drought policy is a major theme. Contractors are often the first call when restrictions hit and landscapes show stress. Rather than broad watering bans, states and local governments should use smarter condition-based rules that allow approaches that recognize real-world needs and exceptions, including establishment periods for new plantings, system maintenance and testing, tree watering, community-use areas such as parks and sports fields, and appropriate alternate supplies such as wells or reuse water.

A second major theme is the continued rollout of state product regulation. Although it’s voluntary at the federal level, some states have been mandating WaterSense spray sprinkler bodies and irrigation controllers. This can directly affect what contractors stock, specify and install. This remains an active area of debate.

“Policy is moving quickly, but that also creates opportunities for professionals who stay informed and adapt early.”

California is the clearest example of why engagement by the IA and its members is critical. The California Energy Commission’s irrigation-controller rulemaking appears to be moving in a better direction, with improved alignment with WaterSense, but important details still need work to make implementation practical and consistent.

Colorado offers a different lesson. Lawmakers moved to repeal the prior irrigation-controller standard after confusion and unintended consequences became apparent. Illinois is also worth watching because current legislation has included irrigation controllers and spray sprinkler bodies, though signs suggest the controller provisions may ultimately be removed. Across these debates, the same issues keep coming up: retrofit situations, packaging for add-ons and plug-ins, product scope, exceptions, and affordability for smaller landscapes. Those details may sound technical, but for contractors, they can determine whether a rule works in the field or creates headaches for everyone involved.

A third trend is the growing number of limits on nonfunctional turf. These policies are starting to move from concept to compliance deadline. California’s AB 1572 will begin phasing in potable-water restrictions for nonfunctional turf on covered properties starting in 2027, and Colorado’s 2024 law already has key provisions in effect for certain nonresidential development and redevelopment. For contractors, this is not just a story about turf removal. It is also a story about transition: how to help customers understand where turf remains functional, where conversions may be required or encouraged, and how efficient irrigation can support better outcomes across a changing landscape. While some laws are already on the books, the IA is seeking more win-wins, where we can see gains in efficiency without limiting landscape choices for customers and communities.

Policy is moving quickly, but that also creates opportunities for professionals who stay informed and adapt early. The IA’s role is to help make sure the rules are workable, the industry’s perspective is heard and contractors are better positioned to serve customers while saving water.

Andrew D. Morris is director, policy and technical affairs, at the Irrigation Association. He can be reached at andrewmorris@irrigation.org.