The Other 49: Outdoor Conservation Programs Beyond California Mary Ann Dickinson President and CEO
Outdoor Conservation Survey California not the only state doing outdoor programs Just about every utility with customer in ground irrigation systems AWE surveying states for an Outdoor Conservation Program Summary Summary Report and excel spreadsheet to be released in May We are giving you a sneak preview!
Observations Popular Outdoor Programs nationwide: 1. Irrigation design 2. Reuse 3. Landscape education 4. Turf removal 5. Rainwater harvesting Ordinances tend to cluster geographically
Outdoor Water Use Restrictions
Frequent Ordinance Elements Emergency Water Use Automatic sprinkler restrictions Car washing Off-peak outdoor watering Total outdoor watering bans (drought) Outdoor watering restrictions by type Golf course water budgets
Frequent Ordinance Elements Swimming pool filling restrictions Washing impervious surfaces Watering during precipitation / Rain Sensor Ordinance Water Waste Ordinances (run-off) Grass species requirements HOAs prohibited from restricting the installment of water smart landscapes
Sample Communities for Today 1. Cobb County, GA 2. Las Vegas, NV 3. Medford, OR 4. Phoenix, AZ 5. San Antonio, TX 6. Seattle, WA 7. Tampa, FL
San Antonio, Texas 2014 Conservation Ordinance Year-Round watering restrictions when the Edwards Aquifer level is above 660 feet mean sea level 4 Stages of Drought, each triggering additional watering restrictions Drought-Tolerant Grass required for new development Non-Potable Water Tank Registration with SAWS Water Waste Reporting Mechanism, with fines
San Antonio, Texas 2014 Conservation Ordinance Specific rules for homebuilders & developers Must offer a xeriscape option to prospective home buyers constructing model homes, one model must have xeriscape option In-ground irrigation systems must be zonal irrigation systems 4 inches of soil required under new installation of turfgrass Irrigation permits
San Antonio, Texas GardenStyleSA website WaterSaver Patioscape Coupon: $100 or $200 coupon for replacing lawn with a pervious patioscape WaterSaver Landscape Coupon: $100 coupon for replacing lawn with a water-saving garden bed Residential Irrigation Design Rebate: Rebates per zone, drip conversion, regulated spray heads 525 design rebates since March 2014 Commercial added in 2016 WaterSaver Free Irrigation Consultation to evaluate irrigation system More than 4,500 participants since March 2014 Rainwater Harvesting: coupons for barrels, raingardens
San Antonio, Texas New Initiatives Promoting the Yard of the Month program in high-use neighborhoods Tying the Irrigation Retirement Rebate to the Irrigation Check Up Regulation with late fee and rate increase for non-compliance. Personalized notices to large irrigation site managers exceeding the monthly max irrigation amount for their system Controller pilot for customers new to conservation
Las Vegas, Nevada Lots of Ordinances Landscape Watering Restrictions (May 1 Aug 31) No sprinkler irrigation 11am-7pm (Sep 1- Oct 31) Seasonal restrictions for drip irrigation No Mist Systems allowed at commercial sites (Sep-May) Surface area limits for fountains at commercial sites Square footage limits for turf, and new grass prohibited HOA cannot restrict installation of water smart landscape Golf Course Water Budgets Fees and fines for water waste
Las Vegas, Nevada Irrigation installation and Water Smart Landscape conversions Water Smart Landscapes Rebate for Businesses and Homeowners $2 per square foot of grass removed and replaced with desert landscaping up to the first 5,000 sf converted per property, per year Pool Cover Coupons -- up to $50 on a solar cover and up to $200 on a permanent pool cover 11,071,250 sf of pool cover have been rebated through the pool cover rebate program, for an estimated 1.3 billion gallons in savings (4,118 AF) achieved in the Las Vegas Valley
Las Vegas, Nevada Rain Sensor Instant Rebate -- $25 or 50% off the purchase price of a qualifying products that shut down irrigation systems when not needed Smart Irrigation Controller Rebate -- 50% off or up to $200 off a smart irrigation clock that adjusts watering schedules according to the weather Landscape Design Resources Water Smart Home Program -- Incorporates watersmart landscaping in certifying water smart homes and neighborhoods SNWA projects a savings of 825,000 gallons of water per year for the average 15,000 squarefoot conversion to water-smart landscaping.
Cobb County, Georgia Outdoor watering restrictions: outdoor irrigation is permitted twice a week on the odd/even schedule. Watering schedules allowed between 4PM 10AM daily Ability to apply for landscape and construction site exemptions In 2007-2009 when restrictions were implemented there was a decrease in use of 17%. No current estimates available. Water Waste Reporting Mechanism
Cobb County, Georgia Irrigation System Audit 2500 audits so far Classes: Water Efficient Landscape 150 participants 30-45 minute class focused on 7 best practices for water efficient landscapes Participants receive free outdoor kits Control your Controller 40 participants 30-45 minute class introducing irrigation controllers and skills to get the most from them Sprinkler Spruce Up 250 participants 30-45 minute class on irrigation systems best practices for maintaining, managing, and scheduling irrigation
Cobb County, Georgia New Initiatives Sports Turf Management for School Personnel Incorporating Water Efficiency into Your Business Practice WaterSense Controller Pilot (pending drought conditions)
Medford, Oregon No current use restriction ordinance, but may be implemented in the future 2013 Landscape Ordinance set landscaping & irrigation standards applicable to: Commercial Industrial Institutional Multi-family Residential Subdivision Open space/landscaping Requirements vary on the project size Managed through the City Planning Office
Medford, Oregon Education and Training: presentations for elementary students and also for the landscape workforce training program at the community college Education and Training: Water-Wise landscaping demonstrations Irrigation Audits: system review, watering schedule, moisture meter distribution (430 audits performed between 2001-2009, primarily residential) Irrigation Auditor Training: sponsored for public grounds keepers at parks and school properties
Medford, Oregon New Initiatives Seasonal watering information to customers Efficient Landscape Training program for homeowners and landscape professionals Real-Time irrigation times and tips Irrigation audit program (New goal of 70+ annually)
Seattle, Washington No ordinance $100 rebate for replacing existing irrigation controller that isn t WaterSense certified Saving Water Partnership -- covers 50% of the cost for irrigation upgrades that save water Weather-based watering schedule calculator -- Updated daily with new weather information RainWise Rebates Promotes stormwater reduction through building rain gardens, using cisterns, planting trees, using compost & mulch, permeable paving options, etc. Program targets selected sewer overflow basins and may pay up to 100% of costs Average rebate is $4,000
Tampa, Florida Ordinances Year-round watering restrictions 1. 2 days/week; days depend on address 2. No watering between 8am and 6pm 3. Punitive fees from $100-$450 apply for violations, with a mandatory court appearance
Tampa, Florida WaterWise Award Program Running for 16 years Recognizes homeowners and businesses committed to conserving water and protecting the environment by using the most water-efficient landscaping practices. Rainwater Harvesting Workshops WaterWise Award Winner Photos Courtesy of Tampa Bay Water
Phoenix, Arizona No Ordinances Free Conservation and Landscape Workshops Variety of educational and how-to materials, including videos
Conclusion Lots of examples and approaches exist or are being developed in other states Lesson learned: Programs and ordinances only impactful if they are tailored to your customer base Look at examples not just in your own climate and geography, but in places with similar challenges and customer bases