The Irrigation Association, Fairfax, Virginia, will co-host a webinar on the California drought and new statewide water restrictions from 4 to 5 p.m. ET June 6. The webinar is a collaboration between the IA; the California Landscape Contractors Association, Sacramento, California; and the National Association of Landscape Professionals, Fairfax, Virginia.
The webinar will provide attendees with information on how the water regulations and rules impact them, what they need to be aware of, where to go for more information specific to their business and customers, and how they can monitor the situation.
Panelists Maureen Erbeznik, principal at Maureen Erbeznik and Associates, Los Angeles; Peter Estournes, CWM, CLP, CLIA, vice president and principal of Gardenworks Inc., Healdsburg, California; and Warren Gorowitz, CLIA, director of corporate social responsibility, Hunter Industries, San Marcos, California, will speak on the drought impacting California, the statewide restrictions California is implementing on outdoor water use, local restrictions California water providers are implementing on outdoor water use and ways green industry pros can get involved to promote efficient irrigation.
Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions to the panelists during a Q&A session.
The webinar comes after the California State Water Resources Control Board voted on May 24 to adopt emergency water conservation regulations starting in June, according to a California Water Board’s news release.
The new regulations ban irrigating turf at commercial, industrial and institutional properties. The ban does not include watering turf used for recreation or other community purposes, water used at residences or water to maintain trees.
Additionally, all urban water suppliers will be required to implement conservation actions under level 2 of their water storage contingency plans.
Similarly, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California declared an emergency water shortage April 26 and announced its most stringent water restrictions starting June 1. Metropolitan’s member agencies will be required to enforce one of two options: Residents can only water outdoors once a week, or they have to keep their total water use below a specific target.
“The most efficient use of a drop of water is the Irrigation Association’s No. 1 goal,” says IA CEO Natasha Rankin, MBA, CAE. “How California is handling this ongoing drought may intend to help conserve water, but we believe true water use efficiency comes from consumer education and smart irrigation technology adoption. We urge irrigation professionals to join the IA, CLCA and NALP on this webinar to gain vital information and resources regarding California’s drought and new water restrictions. These conditions call for a new way of thinking and acting, and it’s imperative we all come together now and ensure that future decisions account for efficient technologies and advancements – and their vital role in water use and management.”
Visit bit.ly/3MQC0eP to register for the webinar.
