Keynote Address to the Florida Irrigation Society\'s 2009 Annual Conference

1. It Can’t Happen To Me! Lessons Learned from the Recent Drought in Georgia Ed Klaas, CIC, CLIA, CGIA, EPA WaterSense Partner

2. It Can’t Happen To Me! Lessons Learned from the Recent Drought in Georgia Ed Klaas, CIC, CLIA, CGIA, EPA WaterSense Partner Owner/Vice President – Business & Legal Affairs Southern Sprinkler Systems, LLC Chair – Irrigation Association Contractor Common Interest Group Irrigation Association Ambassador, Region 3 Leader & Georgia State Leader Former President – Georgia Irrigation Association Past President – Georgia Green Industry Association – Irrigation & Water Division Board Member – Georgia Water Wise Council

3. With parts of Georgia and the southeastern U.S. just coming out of a record drought, the irrigation and green industries still face unprecedented challenges. Many other factors such as a down economy, increased unemployment, a housing slump, immigration issues and draconian water restrictions have contributed to make this a perfect storm. Learn what the irrigation industry in Georgia has done to combat the issues and how companies in Florida can benefit from the Georgia’s experiences and responses, both good and bad.

5. Limited Resources

6. Nature’s Boundaries Georgia Department of Community Affairs

15. Lake Lanier – Atlanta’s Main Water Supply Reservoir on the Chattahoochee River

16. NESPAL GA EPD 23/77 Pumping averages 2.3 Bgals/day, and about 1.0 Bgals/day in the Flint River Basin.

17. Population Pressures

18. Population Growth Drives Water Demand U.S. POPClock Projection According to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, the resident population of the United States, projected to 07/17/09 at 14:30 GMT (EST+5) is 307,002,938 COMPONENT SETTINGS FOR JULY 2009 One birth every.................................. 7 seconds One death every................................ 13 seconds One international migrant (net) every 35 seconds Net gain of one person every…......... 11 seconds

20. "Yankees in Georgia! How did they ever get in” Miss Pittypat to Dr. Meade

26. A Primer on Drought in Georgia

31. A once-in-a-century drought in the Southeast

32. “ We’re in the throes of a drought that’s never been seen in history,” Jack Dozier, executive director of the Georgia Association of Water Professionals, said during a 2008 symposium. “And it’s going to get worse before it gets better.”

34. Rainfall – 12 Months

35. Rainfall - 12 Months

36. Rainfall – 24 Months

37. Soil Moisture

38. More people are using more water, demand for freshwater resources are increasing, while supply is not

39. Georgia is not alone. 36 states are anticipating local, regional, or statewide water shortages by 2013, even under non-drought conditions.

40. Water supply infrastructure is a major cost. There is less money to pay for it. Population growth and aging components add more stress to systems.

41. Kids having fun at Lake Lanier

42. Do you like to jet ski?

43. Any boaters or skiers?

44. How about fishermen?

45. Last one in is a rotten egg!

46. What happened to my waterfront property?

47. Lake Allatoona

48. Me and my dog out for a swim!

49. Bear Creek Reservoir (normal)

50. Same Place (drought)

51. Lake Lanier GA

52. Stream Flows

55. Water Efficiency: Why America (and especially Georgia) need it

56. Water Efficiency: Why America (and especially Georgia) need it

57. Water Efficiency: Why America (and especially Georgia) need it

58. Federal Regulations

68. Battle lines are drawn

69. Georgia’s Response

70. Prayer Governor and Mrs. Sonny Perdue bow in prayer with other citizens of Georgia, asking God to send rain to the parched region. Governor Perdue called for prayers to end the drought and hosted a gathering on the Georgia State Capitol steps, November 13, 2007. He asked that we pray with the citizens of Georgia that needed rains will come and that we also pray that all Americans will work to conserve our natural resources. Photo courtesy of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

71. “ We live in the world’s most technically sophisticated society, yet we are now right back where we were three thousand years ago, praying for rain.” Garrett Ward, Texas Drought 1997

72. State Associations

78. In most cases, EPD eliminated the use of all forms of irrigation Irrigation of any kind, No! Garden hoses, Yes!

79. Georgia’s Water Conservation Plan in Action!

80. “ What we call man’s power over nature turns out to be a power exercised by some men over other men with nature as its instrument.” C.S. Lewis, The Abolition of Man, 1947

85. Water Purveyors Response Government Rebates and Incentives In America ! Mostly offered in the Southwest but are beginning to appear in other regions.

86. Green Industry Response and Economic Impact

87. When in a bind you need friends!

88. Just remember though that not everyone who shows up i s there to help you!!!!

90. Where are we now?

92. The Georgia Drought monitor is a subset of the United States Monitor, issued every Thursday morning, based on drought conditions the previous Tuesday. The map below shows the current drought level around the state, and the percent of Georgia land area in each drought level compared to the previous week.

93. Just 3 months ago at the end of November, Lake Lanier was very close to it’s record low of 1,050.81 feet. It got all the way down to 1,051.35 feet just 1/2 a foot away from the record. Since November there has been a solid amount of precipitation (even snow) that have helped fill the lake up to 1,057.45 feet as of March 1st, 2009. That is an increase of 6 feet in a short amount of time and a good start to 2009 for Lake Lanier.

94. Is the Drought Over? from I.R. Tannehill, Drought: Its Causes and Effects , Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey, 1947

99. Lessons Learned?

100. Allied Golf Group • Formed when the Urban Agriculture/Green Industry failed to produce results • Includes Owners, Managers, Pros, State Golf Association and Superintendents • Formed a Water Task Force • Pooled resources and have escaped the carnage. They are a great example of being proactive!

101. Noah Didn’t Wait Until It Started Raining to Build the Ark On the other hand, don’t wait for a drought to get engaged and to start conserving water!

108. It is no longer acceptable to have water running down the street!

109. What can we do?

110. Whatever you do, don’t do this!

111. Don’t put all your efforts on the backend! Don’t Procrastinate! Make Time Now and Prioritize

112. Need for Water Efficiency High-performing technology available Water shortages expected in 36 states Consumers looking for ways to save on rising utility bills Water efficiency has potential for significant infrastructure savings Opportunity to change practices —up to 50% of water used in our yards is wasted

124. “ You must be the change you wish to see in the world. ” Mohandas Gandhi

125. WATER. WE PUMP IT … PIPE IT … FILTER IT … TREAT IT and then…

126. BROWN SPOTS DUE TO POOR UNIFORMITY LOSE 50% TO INEFFICIENCY

127. PUMP IT … PIPE IT … FILTER IT … TREAT IT THEN RUN IT DOWN THE GUTTER!

128. THEN WE CATCH THE RUNOFF … PUMP IT BACK … FILTER IT … REMOVE THE CHEMICALS AND RETURN IT TO THE SYSTEM. There has to be a better way! Efficiency is part of the solution.

129. “ It is one thing to find fault with an existing system. It is another thing altogether, a more difficult task, to replace it with an approach that is better .” Nelson Mandela This is your challenge as an industry!

130. Don’t Be Caught Living In The Past

131. Plan Now or Later Plan now under your own constraints with feasibility and time on your side or plan later under mandates, water restrictions or bans. If you begin planning, it may lessen any impact later on.

132. The battle is coming. Will you be ready? Use your water resources efficiently now. Get engaged. Stay engaged. Build alliances now.

135. Why does this all matters to me? My Two Georgia Peaches: Teddy & Mellie

136. For all your irrigation needs contact: www.southernsprinklers.com Ed Klaas 1180 North Coleman Road Roswell, GA 30075-3404 Office (678) 461-7922 Fax (678) 461-7921 Mobile (770) 309-7032

137. Q & A?