The California State Legislature recognizes the importance of landscaping for recreation, fire protection, erosion control, enhancing environmental conditions and replacing ecosystems in areas of development. However, California faces a real challenge to meet the water needs of a growing population with a limited supply of water. To meet this challenge, water use in landscapes must become more efficient.  There are many ways to accomplish this goal and even modest improvements can have a cumulative effect in saving a great deal of water.

Landscape Water Use Conservation Methods

There are many methods that can reduce the amount of water used in a landscape and still maintain the health, appearance and function of the landscape. Here are just a few:

•Water-efficient landscape designs using low water-use plants

•Efficient irrigation systems

•Minimized turf areas

•Soil improvements and mulch

•Regular maintenance of irrigation systems

•Regular adjustment of irrigation controllers

•Scheduling irrigation during early or late hours

•Water budgeting using evapotranspiration data from CIMIS and crop coefficients from "WUCOLS" -Water Use Classification of Landscape Species

•Dedicated landscape water meters for monitoring of water budget and leak detection

Landscape Water Use Conservation Technology:

ET Irrigation Controllers

There are several new types of irrigation controllers that base the irrigation schedule on evapotranspiration data. Some of the controllers use historical data only. Others use a combination of historical data and real-time data feeds from on-site temperature sensors, sunlight intensity indicators or from complete weather stations.

These "ET" controllers represent a new frontier in scheduling irrigation by enabling the irrigator to apply the amount of water actually required by the landscape plants. This is a great improvement over irrigating an arbitrary "run time" when the amount of water needed and the amount of water applied is usually not matched.

The advantages of using an ET controller include:

•Reduced run-off

•Less damage to pavement

•Fences and buildings

•Increased health of plants from fewer diseases and insect pests

•Better air circulation in the soil

•Fewer "soggy" or dry areas

•Lower water bills

•Reduced energy costs

ET based controllers have been used in large turf areas such as golf courses and parks for some time. Newer models are being used and tested for use by residential customers throughout the state.

John Irwin is the Owner of Royal Garden Landscaping, a Sacramento based Landscape Installation company in operation for more than 18 years. For more information on installing energy efficient sprinklers visit www.royalgardenlandscaping.com.