Established in 1982, the award recognizes significant achievement in conserving water and energy related to irrigation. The award will be presented Nov. 6 at the IA Keynote Breakfast during the 27th Annual International Irrigation Show in San Antonio.

After experiencing a severe drought in 2001, the San Antonio Water System spent four years working with the irrigation industry and others with an interest in water usage to develop a comprehensive ordinance that would conserve water without disproportionately impacting irrigation businesses and other water users.

?EUR??,,????'??San Antonio has established a model conservation program that encourages irrigation efficiency all year,?EUR??,,????'?? said Brian Vinchesi, chair of the IA Awards and Honors Committee. ?EUR??,,????'??This program mitigates the impact of drought without imposing drastic restrictions on property owners and the industry. It shows that planning and promoting efficient irrigation practices can make a difference.?EUR??,,????'??

The ordinance, passed by the city council in 2005, requires rain sensors for irrigation systems, encourages irrigation audits and rewards efficient landscape and irrigation designs. In addition, SAWS?EUR??,,????'??? Seasonal Irrigation Program provides customers easy access to evapotranspiration data to help them make informed decisions about when and how much to irrigate.

The city?EUR??,,????'???s ordinance and SAWS efforts are credited with saving 1.3 billion gallons of water per year in irrigation and other water uses.