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9. Maintain the irrigation 10. Request an irrigation audit system so every drop counts Every drop of water that is supplied to the landscape by irrigation should be protected from loss due to evaporation, overspraying or runoff. Irrigation systems that do not leak, overspray or gush water are critical to conserving water. ^ Mulch to reduce evaporation. ^ Keep the rain shut off device in working condition. ^ For overhead spray systems, check and adjust the system regularly for: • Matched precipitation rate (MPR) nozzles • Low, buried sprinklers • Incorrect nozzles • Overspray • Head to head coverage • Improper pressure • Leaks near unusually tall, green vegetation, muddy or eroding spots ^ Repair leaks and broken sprinklers immediately. Use originally specified materials or materials of superior quality and effciency. ^ Keep in mind that it may take more diligence with drip systems to notice leaks and troubleshoot other problems. ^ Become IA certified. Contact the Irrigation Association at www.irrigation.ore. Properly maintained irrigation systems not only save water but can also avoid unnecessary plant, fencing and asphalt replacement costs and increase property values. They can also decrease the use of energy for pumping and moving water, which in turn reduces greenhouse gas emissions. It is estimated that overwatering causes 85% of all landscape problems. SOURCE: A CONSUMER S GUIDE TO WATER CONSERVATION, AMERICAN WATER WORKS ASSOCIATION FREE water use surveys for landscapes, offered by many local water districts provide your commercial or home- owners association customers with practical information for improving landscape quality and reducing water costs. Utility company staff will demonstrate how to use irrigation equipment efficiently. Your local water district is often a good source for information on water conservation. Many offer free irrigation audits of existing landscapes. An audit includes landscape area measurements and an analysis of distribution uniformity, irrigation scheduling, and overall system performance. Additional practices for conserving water may be identifed. You can then demon- strate to the clients how your skills can save them money on their water bills. Customer satisfaction will be increased. "Wle ask to see our clients' water bills, and show them what we can do to save them money. " - George Pacheco, Owner/President, Pacheco Brothers Gardening, Hayward "I believe we can re uCe urban landscape water use by SO%. Irvine has seen water use decline from 4.4 acre feet per acre in 1990 to 1.9 acre feet per acre in 2003. " SOURCE: TOM ASH, LANDSCAPE WATER USE: WHAT TO KNOW B WHAT TO DO NOW, ECO-LANDSCAPING: PROFITING FROM A GREEN FUTURE, 200. Rebates for Irrigation Upgrades Many water districts offer free commercial landscape irrigation audits and irrigation upgrade programs. Customers of East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD), for example, may qualify for rebates of 50% of the material costs of installing water-efficient irrigation equipment for existing irrigation systems, up to $10,000 per site, $5,000 per account (meter). Sites must have had a site survey to participate in the program. Contact your local water supplier, or EBMUD at (510) 287-0591 or visit their website at www.ebmud.com, for information on how to apply for rebates. See Conserve Water in the Resource Section of this book for a listing of water districts in the Bay Area. ~~ ~.. R"! ~, "~• ~.. n• ~ N y 37 Irrigation wa[er running inro the scree[ contributes to excessive water bills and damage to pavement.