Landscape Architects Provide Tools for Water Conservation

Members of the San Diego Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) are offering to provide tools to municipalities, homeowners and small businesses to help them find water conservation savings this summer and year-round through position papers they have online (www.asla-sandiego.org) that explain the best practices that can help residents reduce their landscape water use, preserve trees and adopt climate positive practices to help reduce heat by making small changes to their landscape planning.

The San Diego Chapter of ASLA recognizes that potable water is in finite supply, water conservation is a regional, as well as a global issue, and that our region relies heavily on imported water.

San Diego ASLA encourages a regional approach to water conservation through the design/ retrofit, specification, installation and maintenance of highly efficient irrigation systems that utilize state-of-the-art irrigation technology, the use of automatically adjusting weather or soil moisture sensing “smart controllers,” and by utilizing regionally appropriate landscape plant species and inert groundcovers/ mulches.

San Diego ASLA also encourages the creation of landscapes that have zero irrigation runoff, the use of recycled or rain harvested water, and the recharging of groundwater as a means to conserve finite potable water resources and reduce the demand for imported water.

LANDSCAPE WATER CONSERVATIONS STRATEGIES:

  • Conserve 20% – 40% of irrigation water annually by using a “smart” irrigation controller (automatically adjusts run times based on actual weather or soil moisture conditions). (Source: Irrigation Association).
  • Conserve by using high irrigation efficiency application methods and proper pressure regulation (i.e., high efficiency verses spray irrigation).
  • Conserve by using low water use plant species.
  • Conserve by using warm season turf instead of cool season turf.
  • Conserve through proper hydro zoning. (Separation of irrigation zones/ stations/ run times according to areas of the landscape with similar water needs based on plant species water requirements, slope/aspect, soil conditions, exposure (sun/ shade), wind, or other microclimate factors.)
  • Conserve by applying a 2”-3” layer of mulch.
  • Conserve by using areas of non-irrigated inert groundcovers/ mulches.
  • Conserve by testing soils and designing, amending the soil, and setting the controller (i.e., cycle/soak) accordingly.
  • Conserve through proper design of irrigation systems.
  • Conserve through proper maintenance of irrigation systems.
  • Conserve by irrigating during hours with the least evaporation (evening or early morning).

The San Diego Chapter of ASLA will be partnering with other industries and agencies including the CA Landscape Contractors Association, the Irrigation Association, American Planning Association, Association of Public Works and the San Diego County Water Authority to provide educational tools for residents and businesses to successfully meet our water conservation goals now and into the future.