Because we are again, in 1989, faced with severe water shortages across the United States, we must create higher standards for water management. This cannot be overstated: if we continue to waste water, we may see restrictions that could effect the entire landscape industry. For example, last year the City of Columbus, Ohio, when faced with water shortages, stopped every drop of outside landscape irrigation for the entire season. Needless to say, many firms in the landscape industry lost a lot of money and were forced to look elsewhere for work. Essentially, if we don’t take steps to upgrade our industry, the government will do it for us!

I spend a good deal of time evaluating existing systems and reviewing both contractor installations and all types of irrigation designs. I see many system designs, installations and maintenance work which are inadequate and result in a shorter system life cycle and higher than necessary costs to the owner. Poor design, installation and maintenance will waste huge amounts of precious and limited water. It is not uncommon to see water usage double or triple when systems are not installed, designed, or maintained correctly! Many people who are operating systems tend to waste a lot of water because they have no idea how much water they are actually applying or how much water their particular landscape requires.

What can we do? Where do we start? Several things come to mind such as education, better communication, more research, guidelines/standards and certification.

1. EDUCATION is for everyone. We all need to stay current with the best and latest technology. The irrigation industry must focus on special educational programs for the people who operate and maintain systems. Design schools independent of specific products must be made available for those designing systems. And, of course, training programs for the installation, maintenance, and operation of systems need to be made available to appropriate personnel.


2. COMMUNICATION begins with you. Designers must indicate on plans, specifications, and operating manuals design intent and methods of operation. Designers need more feedback from contractors to better meet the customers’ water needs. In short, we all need to be clear and concise about such diverse things as how much water to apply, when to apply it, system requirements in terms of maintenance, and replacement methods.


3. RESEARCH provides all of us with improved products and knowledge. Investigation must continue on products which conserve water rather than waste it. Design methods for increased system efficiency, plant water requirements, and effective operator instruction are among research priorities in water management through irrigation.


4. GUIDELINES are an industry responsibility and must be instituted by our own people and then communicated to government agencies. This will serve to prevent standards from being set for us by people with incomplete knowledge of our field and, ultimately, to improve water conservation. The American Society of Irrigation Consultants has already developed an excellent set of guidelines for design, installation and management of irrigation systems. These are available from ASIC Standards, 802 W. Comobabi Dr., Suite B, Tucson, Arizona 85704. There must be industry-wide use of these standards for them to make a difference for our future.


5. CERTIFICATION implies a minimum level of competency for which we should strive. It helps the consumer know that you are qualified to work with their water needs. Certification is currently available or is being developed in irrigation design, installation, and water management. The Irrigation Association is very involved in these areas and we should vigorously support certification. Many government agencies already require certification and it is my hope that this will become an increasingly common requirement.

Larry E. Keesen is a nationally recognized authority on the installation, design, maintenance and evaluation of irrigation systems, with twenty-nine years of professional experience. He is certified by the Irrigation Association in residential, commercial, and golf course irrigation design. Keesen has developed and presented many seminars and has written articles in several trade journals as well. Larry Keesen serves on The Irrigation Association Board of Directors and is Past President of the American Society of Irrigation Consultants, has served as a member of The Irrigation Association Certification Board of Governors, is Past President of the Denver Chapter of the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado, and a licensed irrigation designer in the State of Texas. Call him @ 303-695-7711.