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Enhancing Water Efficiency in Large Landscapes: Challenges and Opportunities

Explore strategies to improve water efficiency in large landscapes, including irrigation system upgrades, recycled water use, and design changes. Learn about emerging trends, model ordinances, and industry roles in achieving sustainable water management.

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Enhancing Water Efficiency in Large Landscapes: Challenges and Opportunities

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  1. Challenges and Opportunities for Large Landscapes Tim Blair, Metropolitan Water District

  2. Los Angeles Aqueduct State Water Project Colorado RiverAqueduct Southern California Water Portfolio • 25% Colorado River supplies • 30% State Water Project supplies from Bay/Delta • 45% Local Supplies • Los Angeles Aqueduct • Groundwater Production • Groundwater Recovery • Recycling • Conservation • Desalination (prospective) Local

  3. Emerging Trends and Challenges • 20% Per Capita Reduction by 2020 • Water efficient landscape ordinances • New and rehabilitated landscapes • Existing landscapes • Retail Water Rate Structures • Transition to conservation-based pricing • Recycled Water • Knowledgeable landscape professionals • Increased availability

  4. Emerging Trends and Challenges • Municipal Stormwater Permits • Landscape irrigation, irrigation water and lawn water addressed as illicit discharges (San Diego Regional Board) • Large Landscape Areas • Older Communities – not designed for water efficiency • New Communities – smaller lots, increased use of common areas

  5. Where are the opportunities? • Improve Irrigation Efficiency • Increase Use of Recycled Water • Incorporate Design Changes • Eliminate hard to irrigate areas, reducing runoff • Water efficient plant material • Design for recycled water systems

  6. Improve Irrigation Efficiency Typical irrigation efficiency = 50% Model ordinance minimum efficiency = 71% Needed improvement = 42% • System Pressure • Irrigation System Controller • Nozzles

  7. Increase Use of Recycled Water • Recycled Water Helps Achieve 20x2020 • Model Ordinance Allows 100% Eto • Management Practices Change • Irrigation equipment, timing, and duration • Resources • “Successful Use of Recycled Water and Drought Tolerant Plants in Park Settings” (www.lasgrwc.com) • “Salt Management Guide for Landscape Irrigation with Recycled Water in Coastal Southern California” (www.salinitymanagement.org)

  8. Incorporate Design Changes • Eliminate Hard to Irrigate Areas, Reducing Runoff • Model Ordinance requirements • No turf on slopes > 25% if sloping to hardscape • Areas less than 8’ wide in any direction to be irrigated with subsurface or low volume irrigation • No overhead irrigation within 24” of any non-permeable surface

  9. Incorporate Design Changes • Water Efficient Plant Material • Model Ordinance requirements • Maximum Applied Water Allowance (MAWA) based on 70% Eto and 0.5 Plant Factor (sitewide average) • Exception for “Special Landscape Areas” • Design for Recycled Water

  10. Roles for Industry • Encourage Professional Education and Training • Irrigation management • Recycled water use • Educate Property Owners, Managers and Governing Boards/Elected Officials • Ensure specifications and contract terms support appropriate design and water use efficiency improvements

  11. Tim Blair (213) 217-6613 tblair@mwdh2o.com

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