Water Conservation Program

Water management districts throughout Florida agree that irrigation makes up 50% of all potable water consumption. Why is this a problem? After all, the State is surrounded by water. In reality, only 2% of all water on the earth is actual able to be converted to potable (drinking) water.

As a responsible landscape maintenance contractor, Mainscape has adopted an aggressive water conservation program. The program analyzed weather data for the past 30 years to determine average irrigation demand for landscapes by month. The month of May has the highest demand for irrigation replacement at nearly 5”. At it most efficient operation, the typical overhead spray irrigation system is only 60% efficient. In some cases system efficiency can be as low as 25-30%. In order to deliver the proper amount of water to a landscape with 60% efficiency, zone run times would have to be increased by 40%, or deliver 6.85” for the month of May.

As a responsible landscape maintenance contractor, Mainscape has adopted an aggressive water conservation program.

As part of the water conservation program irrigation technicians have been on how to spot system inefficiency as well as how to increase efficiency. Examples of ways to increase efficiency can be; moving heads blocked due to plant growth, adding spray heads to shrub risers to allow for growth, ensuring heads have complete head to head coverage. In preparation for the hot and dry time of the year, irrigation technicians address system efficiencies as part of their regularly scheduled irrigation inspections.

The second phase of the program is to offer longer term solutions to increase efficiencies. This may include system renovations or simply upgrading rain sensors. Mainscape staff will bring proactive water management opportunities to each property.

The goal of the program would be to save water by increased efficiency and lessening irrigation run times. This can have a dramatic effect on the overall performance of the landscape. Not only will plants receive the proper amount of water, but fertilizers will not have a shorter life due to being washed out early by excessive irrigation.

Jeff Snyder
CIC, CLIA, EPA Water Sense Partner
Director of Irrigation & Water Management
Mainscape