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Benefits of Irrigation Are No Mystery To Those In-The-Know
Over the past 20 years, landscape irrigation has evolved from a luxury to a
necessity and for many good reasons.
During this time, every region of the United States has had to learn the harsh
realities of drought conditions. As a result, the more progressive state agencies
and water districts are doing as much as possible to plan for the inevitable,
and doing so requires the input of irrigation professionals. Owners and operators
of virtually any facility that must maintain its grounds seek solutions to preserve
turf aesthetics and performance in the face of unforeseen but routine challenges
that Mother Nature brings our way. And as residential water use restrictions
become increasingly common, the public at large is realizing that water is not
to be taken for granted.
Fueled by this growing appreciation among more water-smart end users, irrigation
design has progressed from being an extension of the sales department of a manufacturer
or distributor to the technical discipline that it is today. Advancements in
everything from nozzles and plastics and sensors to computerized automated control
systems, water treatment and subsurface drip technologies are contributing to
the demand for professionally designed and managed irrigation and water management
systems.
Also driving the growth of our industry and our association is the greater
realization among end users of the escalating costs of water usage and the need
to find alternative water resources to combat drought and shrinking supplies.
Remember, there’s a finite amount of water on this earth. Growing demand
requires that water be used and managed as efficiently as possible. Huge inefficiencies
and waste result from poorly designed and installed irrigation systems. Fact
is, you will waste water without a professionally designed system. It’s
that simple.
The amount being spent on construction of irrigation systems produced by the
professional members of ASIC exceeds more than $712 million, up more than 30
percent from five years ago. We can expect to reach the billion dollar level
within a couple of years as needs rise in the many sectors served by ASIC professional
members, including sports turf and golf, public works, and commercial and residential
real estate development, among others. The non-profit group LEED (Leadership
in Energy and Environmental Design), formed to create standards for high performance
buildings, has set new requirements for water efficient landscaping. This creates
new opportunities for the professional irrigation consultant prepared to meet
exacting standards.
Those of us who have devoted many years to this profession are especially gratified
to see the growing body of industry knowledge and increasingly high standards
governing our business. As customers’ expectations rise, so must our capabilities.
The exchange of ideas and interaction among ASIC members contributes to our
collective efforts to raise the bar for performance. At the same time, irrigation
is making its way into educational curriculums at the college level, which speaks
to the profession’s growing popularity, importance and sophistication.
In some circles, we’ve been able to abolish the myth that irrigation systems
waste water. If irrigation is wasting water, then it’s because someone
bought a bad design or doesn’t know how to operate the system, or both.
Independent professional irrigation consultants can prevent that from happening.
Today, the professional members of ASIC combine a broad and firm grasp of environmental
and soil sciences. They are up to date with the changing regulations and requirements
and offer total mastery of the irrigation equipment and technologies being produced
by world-class manufacturers in our field. For example, the advancements in
golf course irrigation, which is my focus, have been enormous. It’s hard
to believe, but just 15 years ago it was common to see four sprinklers on a
green. And everything got the same amount of water (putting surface, approach
and rough). New course designs and requirements and growing demands from course
owners, investors and the players have resulted in the growth of sophisticated
irrigation systems. They’re tailored to meet the wide variety of turf and
soil requirements that one encounters between the first tee and the 18th green,
because the grass has to be healthy every step of the way.
Ironically, the growth and success of the industry have also created some of
our most pressing challenges. In some states, there are efforts underway to
prohibit irrigation consultants from practicing without a license. On one hand,
we might have only ourselves to blame for this unfortunate development, because
we haven’t placed as much emphasis as we should have on educating legislators
and regulators at every level about the very things that our customers know
so well – that irrigation is the solution not the problem. It requires
a great deal of experience, skills and technical expertise to produce a quality
irrigation solution that will conserve energy, water and money. We’re not
just talking hoses and sprinklers here, although that’s the impression
of people without exposure to our industry.
There’s a chance we’ll be penalized for this lack of understanding
among key influencers who don’t know what we do or the value we offer.
Reaching out to these individuals – one on one if that’s what it takes
– and explaining who we are is a top priority for us as we head into the
New Year. We’re prepared to pursue licensing of irrigation consultants
if that’s what it takes. Based on legitimate criteria, licensing will only
protect the end user, and we’re all for that.
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