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Jessica Schwartz
Water Efficient Landscape Design
From financial pundits to environmentalists, most seem to agree that water, particularly in its use, management, and distribution, is the new gold. Water scarcity is the fourth global risk in terms of impact to society, reports the World Economic Forum. While the situation can be one of life and death in Sub-Saharan Africa, the United States is not immune to water issues. Just ask those in Flint, MI or California. Unfortunately, the problem isn’t likely to go away anytime soon and will likely become more widespread. The Union of Concerned Scientists predicts that while some wet and warmer areas may experience heavier precipitation in the future, the periods between rains are likely to become longer, warmer, and drier. Scientists also expect the amount of land affected by drought to increase by mid-century—and water resources in affected areas to decline as much as 30%. In other words, dry areas will get drier. With landscape irrigation accounting for most of the nearly nine billion gallons of water used by U.S. residences outdoor daily, it surpasses the amount of water used for showering and washing clothes combined, according to the U.S. EPA’s WaterSense program. And in a facility, landscaping water usage can easily account for 20% or more of water consumption, according to the Whole Building Design Guide (WBDG), a program of the National Institute of Building Sciences. Thus, landscapes, especially those with thirsty turfgrass, are increasingly becoming a key target for water conservation. California Water Laws None of this is news to ...
Celebrate Smart Irrigation This July
To further its mission “to promote efficient irrigation,” the Irrigation Association (IA) will once again be celebrating Smart Irrigation Month in July. In its 15th year, Smart Irrigation Month serves as the showcase month for the irrigation industry and the public to recognize and promote the benefits associated with smart and efficient irrigation. Serving as the official kickoff of Smart Irrigation Month, the IA named the second Tuesday in July — July 9 — as Technology Tuesday to raise awareness about everything that makes up smart irrigation, including the people and the technologies that efficiently apply water to agricultural fields, landscapes and turf grass throughout the world. Everyone who supports the benefits of smart irrigation are asked to wear blue on Technology Tuesday in support of Smart Irrigation Month. “July continues to serve as our month to not only celebrate everything our industry has to offer but also educate the public on the importance of smart irrigation,” said IA Government and Public Affairs Director John Farner. “Smart Irrigation Month is our month. It’s our month to talk about the importance of water, the importance of smart and efficient irrigation, and the importance of our industry to the growth and success of our society.” The theme of the 2019 Smart Irrigation Month is “Smart Irrigation in Action.” Throughout the months of June and July, the IA will be encouraging everyone in the irrigation industry to showcase smart irrigation in action through pictures, videos and stories that highlight the benefits of smart ...
