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Home My WebLink AboutOutdoorWaterUseEfficiencyImplementing an Outdoor Water Efficiency Program Managing Water Resources to Support North Carolina’s Future Irrigation Water Efficiency– Three Phases Assess current conditions •Surveys and metering Implement customer educational initiative • Landscape Audit Establish minimum standards and incentivize upgrades •Ordinances and financial benefits Managing Water Resources to Support North Carolina’s Future Water‐Use Surveys Necessary to understand the existing conditions Managing Water Resources to Support North Carolina’s Future •All customers or •Customers with largest summer peak water usage. Surveys sent to Metering/Estimating Outdoor Water Use Surveys should be as simple and quick as possible •Estimate total irrigated area (i.e. 1000 ft2) • Percentage of permanent and temporary irrigated area • Percentage of turf under irrigation •Estimate of irrigated water applied per week • Irrigation by schedule, sensors, feel, or combination Managing Water Resources to Support North Carolina’s Future Metering/Estimating Outdoor Water Use Survey Data Metering/ Estimating Scale of Outdoor Water Usage Separate irrigation metering is the law for new connections serviced by large community water systems. Work with billing department for metering and estimating data Managing Water Resources to Support North Carolina’s Future Implementing Educational Initiative Provide educational information to all irrigation customers •Offer landscape audits to all customers •Encourage landscape audits to customers with largest summer peak water usage. • Install model landscaping activities at town facilities. Communication: •During Water Audit • Bill inserts, Local weather announcers, Gardening show hosts, Newspaper columnists, Gardening clubs, Cooperative Extension, Green industry businesses. Managing Water Resources to Support North Carolina’s Future Minimal Auditing Program Requirements Review past water bills. Landscaped areas specific data, • measurements, •plant types, • irrigation system (zones and controllers). Review maintenance irrigation schedules, and sensor effectiveness. Effectiveness of irrigation heads. Education on simple landscape practices to increase water use efficiency. Managing Water Resources to Support North Carolina’s Future Categories for Proper Landscape Water Management Planning and Design Vegetation selection Efficient irrigation system Soil analysis and amendments Managing Water Resources to Support North Carolina’s Future Planning and Design Survey and use existing contours Create planting/hydro “zones” Minimize earthwork Reduce surface water flow velocity and runoff Limit turf areas to appropriate conditions Managing Water Resources to Support North Carolina’s Future Vegetation Selection •All scales • Nationally (Plant Hardiness Zone Map) •Single landscape area. “All plants must be placed in an environment that meets their basic requirements” ‐USDA Managing Water Resources to Support North Carolina’s Future Picture of local nurseryman; for woody vegetation selection Turfgrass Selection Managing Water Resources to Support North Carolina’s Future Cool‐season species thrive at 60 to 75 degrees • Excessive heat will damage roots Warm‐season species thrive at 80 to 95 degrees • Excessive dryness will damage roots During Drought Conditions Warnings During Drought! •Avoid herbicides and fertilizers •Avoid vehicle or foot traffic •Increase mowing heights. During drought conditions, turf should be watered and irrigated only to keep the turf alive. •½‐inch water every two to four weeks • Turfgrass will go dormant and turn a dull brown. •Water immediately if the turfgrass turns bluish‐gray. Irrigation Systems Permanent Irrigation Systems Pipe and nozzle layout! •Avoid spray overlap by spacing nozzles appropriately •Avoid spraying impermeable surfaces •Avoid larger rooting trees Water efficient nozzles Maintain nozzles Irrigation sensors (rain or soil) Managing Water Resources to Support North Carolina’s Future Temporary Irrigation •Hand watering (bucket or hose) •Drip irrigation •Water Syringing •Temporary sprinklers. Picture of irrigation system or someone holding a water can Measuring Irrigation Efficiency Provides: • Irrigation time • Distribution evenness Managing Water Resources to Support North Carolina’s Future Measurement of irrigation rate 1. Distribute a few empty “catch” cans across the irrigated area. 2. Start time when irrigation begins. 3. End time once the catch can is full. Fertilization/Liming Amendments Native NC soils are generally acidic and low in nutrients •Restrict plant uptake of water Proper fertilization and liming will result in increased water uptake efficiency • Minimal recommended application rates Managing Water Resources to Support North Carolina’s Future Picture someone with a soil auger Mulching and Other Amendments Mulching Offers: •Soil moisture retention, •Reduces of surface water runoff and soil erosion •Impedes the growth of weeds Managing Water Resources to Support North Carolina’s Future Other Amendments • Herbicides reduce competition • Insecticides reduce insect and nematode issues avoiding some disease issues. Minimum Standards and Incentive Programs Develop minimum standards ordinances •Metering of permanent irrigation systems •Avoid irrigating impermeable surfaces •Installation of moisture sensors •Reductions during times of droughts Develop incentive programs with rebates, cost‐sharing, or loans •Replace inefficient nozzles •Turf buy‐back •Encourage certain species •Provide mulch to customers • Installation of permanent irrigation systems Managing Water Resources to Support North Carolina’s Future Achieve and Acknowledge Results Set a reduction goal in water demand for landscape uses. Document results in a system‐wide report within 10 years. Managing Water Resources to Support North Carolina’s Future Ir r i g a t i o n Wa t e r Us a g e Years Water Efficiency Program Report 10‐Year report needs to include: • Number and water use of dedicated irrigation meter accounts •Estimated number and water use for unmetered landscape water use • Number of surveys completed and response rate. • Number of audits completed • Details of educational programs •Data on all incentive programs (type, acceptance, and cost) •Estimates of water savings based on actual metered data (total and programmatic) •The cost of administering irrigation efficiency program. Managing Water Resources to Support North Carolina’s Future Conclusion To effectively manage outdoor water use requires an understanding of the needs/wants of the customers in concert with an educational component to require and encourage responsible landscape water use management • Email: harold.m.brady@ncdenr.gov • Phone: 919‐707‐9005 Managing Water Resources to Support North Carolina’s Future