This document discusses resource efficient landscape irrigation. It begins by providing monthly rainfall data for St. Louis, Missouri. It then shows monthly evapotranspiration rates, or how much water landscapes in St. Louis need each month. There is typically a shortfall in the summer months where water needs exceed rainfall. The document outlines the history of irrigation technology and control methods. It discusses using low volume irrigation techniques and alternative water sources like rainwater and condensation to help address water shortfalls. The last sections discuss programs for sustainable landscapes and how adjusting irrigation schedules can conserve water with no cost.

1. Resource
Efficient
Landscape
Irrigation
By Tom Barrett
Green Water Infrastructure, Inc.
www.ThinkGWI.com
Follow us on Twitter @TomBarrett_GWI
Tom.Barrett@ThinkGWI.com © 2011 Tom Barrett

2. How Much Rain Falls in St. Louis?
January
-
1.83"
February
-
1.85"
March
-
2.88"
April
-
3.58"
May
-
4.10"
June
-
4.72"
July
-
3.56"
August
-
3.51"
September
-
3.17"
October
- 2.96"
November
-
2.35"
December
-
1.85"
Total
36.36"

3. Monthly Rainfall
St. Louis
5.00 4.72
4.10
3.75 3.58 3.56 3.51
3.17
Rainfall (in.)
2.88 2.96
2.50 2.35
1.83 1.85 1.85
1.25
0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

4. How Much Water Does a Landscape
Need in St. Louis?
January
-
0.00"
February
-
0.33"
March
-
1.04"
April
-
2.56"
May
-
4.60"
June
-
6.62"
July
-
7.60"
August
-
6.78"
September
-
4.42"
October
- 2.49"
November
-
0.83"
December
-
0.30"
Total
37.57"

5. Monthly Evapotranspiration
St. Louis
8.00 7.60
6.62 6.78
Evapotranspiration (in.)
6.00
4.60 4.42
4.00
2.56 2.49
2.00
1.04 0.83
0 0.33 0.30
0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

6. What is the Problem? ? ?
Month ET Rain Difference
January - 0.00" 1.83" 1.83"
February - 0.33" 1.85" 1.52"
March - 1.04" 2.88" 1.84"
April - 2.56" 3.58" 1.02"
May - 4.60" 4.10" -0.50"
June - 6.62" 4.72" -1.90"
July - 7.60" 3.56" -4.04"
August - 6.78" 3.51" -3.27"
September - 4.42" 3.17" -1.25"
October - 2.49" 2.96" 0.47"
November - 0.83" 2.35" 1.52"
December - 0.30" 1.85" 1.55"
Total 37.57” 36.36" -1.21"

7. Monthly Evapotranspiration
St. Louis
8.00 7.60
6.62 6.78
Evapotranspiration (in.)
6.00
4.60 4.42
4.00
2.56 2.49
2.00
1.04 0.83
0 0.33 0.30
0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

8. Monthly Rainfall
St. Louis
5.00 4.72
4.10
3.75 3.58 3.56 3.51
3.17
Rainfall (in.)
2.88 2.96
2.50 2.35
1.83 1.85 1.85
1.25
0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

9. Monthly Evapotranspiration
Shortfall - St. Louis
8.00
6.00
4.00
Inches
2.00
0
-2.00
-4.00
-6.00
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

10. History of Irrigation
Systems
1917 - John A. Brooks Company
Patens All Automatic Underground
Irrigation Systems
1933 - Rain Bird Patents the First
Horizontal Impact Rotor
1955 - Weathermatic Patents the first
Hydraulic Valve
1960 - Blass invents the first Dripper
1968 - Moist-O-Matic develops the
Plastic Sprinkler

11. Methods of Control
Systems
Climate Based
Controllers Rain Sensors
Weather Based Soil Moisture Sensors
Controllers Weather Stations
Internet Based Pager Technology
Controllers

12. Climate Based Control

13. Weather Based Control Systems

14. Internet Based Control Systems

15. Rain Sensors

16. Soil Moisture Sensors

17. Weather Stations

18. Paging Technology

19. Low Volume Application
In-line Emitter Tubing
Drip Emitters
Micro-Sprays
Low Precipitation Rotors
Advanced Sprayhead Technology

20. Drip Irrigation Systems

24. Drip Emitters

25. Micro Sprays

26. Low Precipitation Rotors

27. Sprayhead Technology

28. Alternate Water Sources
Gray Water
Effluent Water
Rain Water
Condensation

29. Gray Water

30. Effluent Water

31. Effluent Water

32. Rain Water

33. Untapped Reservoir
Untapped Reservoir
Untapped Reservoir
Untapped Reservoir
Untapped Reservoir
Untapped Reservoir

34. How Much Rain Falls in St. Louis?
January
-
1.83"
February
-
1.85"
March
-
2.88"
April
-
3.58"
May
-
4.10"
June
-
4.72"
July
-
3.56"
August
-
3.51"
September
-
3.17"
October
- 2.96"
November
-
2.35"
December
-
1.85"
Total
36.36"

35. How Much Water Falls in St. Louis?
2,500 sq. ft. Roof
January
-
,852 gallons
2 Image of Rain Falling
February
-
,883
2
March
-
,488
4
April
- 5,579
May
-
,390
6
June
-
7,356
July
-
,548
5
August
-
,470
5
September
-
,940
4
October
-
,613
4
November
-
3,662
December
- 2,883
Total
6,664
5

36. How Much Water Falls in St. Louis?
3 Acre Commercial Property
January
-
49,075 gallons
1
February
-
50,705
1
March
-
34,611
2
April
- 291,634
May
-
33,994
3
June
-
384,501
July
-
90,005
2
August
-
85,932
2
September
-
58,235
2
October
-
41,128
2
November
-
191,436
December
- 150,705
Total
2,961,961

38. Image of Rain Falling

39. Stormwater Mitigation
Stormwater Mitigation
Stormwater Mitigation
Stormwater Mitigation
Stormwater Mitigation

40. HVAC Condensation
½ gallon per hour per ton
of air conditioning.
1,000 ton air conditioner
produces 8 gallons of
water per minute.
Condensation production
occurs when the landscape
needs the water.

41. HVAC Condensation
½ gallon per hour per ton
of air conditioning.
One ton of air conditioning
for every 700 sq. ft. of floor
space.
One ton of air conditioning
for every 5,600 cu. ft. of
building volume.

42. Residential Condensation
8 to 15 gallons of water
per day.
60 to 100 gallons per
week.
250 to 450 gallons per
month.

43. Commercial
Condensation
15 gallons of water per
minute.
360 gallons of water per day.
2,520 gallons of water per
week.
10,000 gallons of water a
month.

44. LEED Rating System

45. LEED Rating System

46. EPA WaterSense Program

47. Irrigation Association

48. Irrigation Association

49. Irrigation Association

50. How Much Water?

51. No Cost Water
Conservation
% Water
Monthly Irrigation Month ET
Budget
Controller Adjustment
April 2.6” 40%
30% Water Savings
May 4.6” 0%
Overall Water
Conservation Resulting in: June 6.6” 140%
July 7.6” 165%
Reduced water usage
August 6.8” 150%
Improved appearance
September 4.4” 95%
Reduced maintenance
October 2.5” 45%

53. The GREEN
Economy

54. PLANTING TREES

55. Green • Water • Infrastructure
Green • Water • Infrastructure
Green • Water • Infrastructure
Green • Water • Infrastructure
Green • Water • Infrastructure

56. Thank You