Navigating modern challenges in irrigation technology for landscape professionals

They want a lush green lawn and an altruistic sense of doing the right thing for water conservation. Working from home, they want to look out the window and beyond the deck at a view that says “thrive.” (Not, fix the dead lawn.)

“Our clients are looking to save resources while, at the same time, manage expenses that go along with irrigation,” says Heather Todd, brand president, Conserva Irrigation, headquartered in Glen Allen, Va., with franchise locations across the country.

The same sentiment rings true in the commercial space, Todd says. “They want a nice, welcoming area when you arrive at a homeowners’ association or restaurant, and they want to save money,” she says. “From a sustainability standpoint, they want to make a difference and give back to the environment, as well.”

Basically, many interests collide. Some seem competing. But irrigation technology is increasingly delivering all-the-things for clients who want to be water-wise and appreciate a vibrant landscape.

Equally important is a shift in what “vibrant landscape” means, points out Mark Ballenger, president, Ballenger Landcare, Pinellas Park, Fla. Some counties in his region reduce irrigation to midnight to 8 a.m. on designated days. In Pasco County, the company can conduct “wet checks” on Tuesdays and Fridays until noon, and Fridays until 3 p.m., if they’re lucky.

“Irrigation has always been a reactive conversation — an afterthought once landscaping is installed,” Ballenger says.

He’s working to reverse planning so water availability drives plant selection. It’s a mindset shift for most property managers. “When you don’t have water, you don’t have water,” he says.

Irrigation and water as a resource tends to be geographically-centered discussion, with some clients feeling the pressure of their municipality’s restrictions and regional environmental pressure. Though across the country, irrigation specialists and landscape professional acknowledge there’s a greater understanding of how we use water, where it comes from, how much is available and what it means to be a steward.

Sense of urgency depends on the client’s interests and regulations, mostly.

“When I moved to Idaho in 2009, water was a non-issue,” says Mike Martin, general manager, Avalon Landscapes in Boise.

Idaho is home to the Eastern Snake River Plain Aquifer (ESPA), a massive, 10,800-square-mile underwater source and one of the world’s largest and most productive. It delivers drinking water and irrigation for the state’s farmland.

Depths range from about 300 feet in permeable zones, and the aquifer overall is about 5,000 feet deep.

That’s a lot of water, but even this rich source is finite. “It’s going to change as we continue to populate,” Martin says, relating that his industry experience in California, Arizona and Nevada had revolved around conservation. “In our territory here, there is still a lot of water.” But he notices a mildly shift in temperament toward, “Maybe we should conserve more.”

Separate Partners

The changing irrigation technology landscape is two-fold.

More customers are listening to suggestions for reducing turf areas and densely planted beds that require more intensive irrigation. And more industry professionals also recognize irrigation shouldn’t necessarily be a division within a full-service firm.

“Irrigation is absolutely a specialty,” Ballenger says. “Traditionally, landscape companies have included irrigation services, and we are starting to see large community development corporations, municipalities and HOA boards separate those contracts.

“They realize there is a gap in knowledge and acumen,” he continues. “So, the way we present our offering is we are an irrigation company that offers landscaping services instead of the reverse.”

Customers find Ballenger for irrigation as a second-generation consulting and design business focused on this specialty. When his dad exited the business, Ballenger says he felt a “gap in the marketplace.”

His mission is to reintroduce and reinforce the importance of irrigation auditing, planning and mindful landscape design with irrigation technology that can sustain a healthy property given his area’s strict regulatory conditions.

Todd also notes a move toward commercial entities and some residential customers, dividing contracts to get specialized irrigation services from a dedicated provider. “We’ve certainly seen this change and it’s been a significant pivot,” she reports.

“We’re seeing this 100% in the commercial space where services were bundled together before, and that’s just not the best use of time and skillset,” Todd continues. “It’s really about finding organizations that can partner, and our team focuses solely on the irrigation side of the business. We can work hand-in-hand with landscape installation and maintenance businesses.”

Targeted tech

Some systems like backflow preventers and rain sensors are longtime water-saving devices that still offer value. Now, these tools are the basics and an entry point for more advanced, targeted water-saving technologies.

“Backflow systems and sensors are simple, and putting in those really basic mechanisms goes a long way,” says Dave Price, CEO, American Heritage Landscape, Canoga Park, Calif.

Smart controllers and evapotranspiration (ET) monitor up the ante and are still considered basic given advancing technology.

But now there’s so much more.

The latest technology including point-to-point sprinkler heads targeted toward specific plants plus drip irrigation and monitoring tools can reduce water usage up to 60% or more, says Todd. Where smart controllers and systems are based on runtime, such as 15 minutes per zone, this is not how we operate,” she says.

Weather-based controllers work in real-time. Rather than turning systems off when precipitation is detected, the system anticipates conditions. “Wi-Fi based controllers are constantly pinging weather data to make adjustments,” she says.

A rain gauge is by far better than allowing a system to run while it’s raining. “But the real-time weather control is a great step toward water savings,” Todd says of the predictive technology. “If the system detects a 70% chance of rain for tomorrow, we can customize settings to not turn on the system today in hopes that Mother Nature will do her part.”

Conserva is involved in a pilot program with a national organization testing a customizable controller that is “even more fine-tuned,” Todd says of advancing the industry through partnerships.

Ballenger says his clients are hungry for information and want to watch water consumption and irrigation system performance. Savings are always an incentive, but so is the feel-good factor of using less water.

“They want to be involved, they want data,” Ballenger says, adding how evolving irrigation tech platforms allow access for multiple users.

Wire-tracking capabilities save the need for in-person technician visits and pinpoint leaks in real-time without labor hours spent hunting down the problem, Ballenger adds.

“It’s nothing to be charged $1,500 to track a wire to valves that a construction company accidentally chopped,” he says. “If valves are added to a remote, wireless system, this alleviates wire tracking.”

Still, on some accounts a human presence is priority, says Martin of commercial clients in the Idaho region he serves. “Technology helps our technicians do their jobs and we utilize it as a tool for the business, but we find our clients still want to see us on their property,” he says.

That said, last year, the company partnered with a vendor to incorporate more central controls with real-time data delivery.

Irrigation jobs are on the upswing at Avalon Landscapes, Martin adds, pointing to the school sector given the state’s growing population and ongoing construction projects. Large-scale school projects can involve up to 10 miles of lateral line and more than a mile of mainline.

“We will have installed 25 to 35 full systems from March to November this year,” Martin says, calling the company’s maintenance division “very irrigation centric.”

Todd says, “It’s really about innovating and owning the backyard, and we’ve seen innovations that started years ago in the home with smart technology for HVAC systems, lights and appliances migrate to the outdoors. Irrigation innovation is continuing to unbundle.”

Covering a lot of ground

At American Heritage Landscape, a client base comprised of large-scale public works entities and high-profile commercial properties is a major part of the overall business. The company installed landscape and irrigation at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, and it services NBC and Universal Studios. On top of these prime accounts, American Heritage also specializes in golf course irrigation.

Price echoes a trend toward “turf reduction” and introduction native plants, trees and mulched spaces. He estimates converting up to 150 acres of golf course property to water-wise landscaping during the last year.

“We’re seeing a lot more of what I call ‘rock mulch’ vs. organic wood shavings,” says Price.

Commercial clients are listening to Price’s suggestions for ways to reduce water consumption, retain moisture and protect their properties.

Irrigation work on golf courses also rebounded, Price reports. Raising funds and budget allocation always drive retrofits and new installs, and it’s retrofit season for a number of clients who are phasing in more efficient irrigation technology solutions and reassigning turf areas to native plantings.

Meanwhile, Price is keeping his team updated on the latest weather-tracking systems and water-saving technologies through training programs vendors offer.

“We’re doing point-to-point irrigation along with drip systems,” he says of targeted watering strategies that reduce if not eliminate waste.

“We are installing specific spray heads for each plant,” Price explains, noting that areas with some plants do not need to be fully irrigated. ‘You’re conserving water if you install drip, but this solution is still more widespread vs. a point-to-point, spray head-to-plant concept.”

Golf irrigation technology is different than landscaping for residential, industrial or commercial properties like HOAs, retail and business, Price says. Namely, his company is moving toward installing HDPE irrigation pipe on golf courses vs. PVC. American Heritage Landscape is certified to fuse and build those systems, which have better resistance to environmental stress and cracking.

“There are no leaks because it’s a seamless (fused) system and the pipe itself is recyclable,” Price says, noting his company constructs and installs HDPE irrigation pipe on location. Currently, American Heritage Landscape is completing a landfill project. “Even when the land settles, the pipe will not break, unlike a conventional system with PVC pipe,” he says.

While cost is often pinned as a deterrent, Price says, “prices are narrowing” and such technology is going to be gradually even more accessible.

Regardless, Price says commercial and residential projects positioned for LEED certification look for smart irrigation solutions, and the recyclability of HDPE pipe is attractive. “Other than that, it hasn’t quite made its way into the majority of commercial irrigation projects,” he says.

Overall, property managers are “very conscientious” of having tools like backflow systems and sensors in place — simple tech that has been on the market for some time and still a relevant, effective go-to for improving water management.

Always a client information age

Across the board, irrigation professionals say client education unlocks opportunities for efficiency upgrades and innovative technology that can move the needle on water usage and system cost.

“It’s really a hands-on, walk around the property educational experience that makes the difference for the customer — and working with them over time,” Todd says of earning trust that the retrofits and technology presented will truly deliver results.

Ballenger adds, “Irrigation professionals can have a more consultative role in client relationships and help drive the conversation — not be reactive — and that’s what I’m looking forward to in this business.”

He ranks these water-first discussions alongside advancing irrigation technology as promising, environmental evolutions.

“Water concerns aren’t going to evaporate. We can’t wish away restrictions or scarcity or defunct wells. There’s an opportunity for young people with an eye on technical careers to excel in this industry, Ballenger points out. “I’m looking at how we attract the next generation of technicians who want to be certified and have an affinity for using their hands while being tech savvy,” he says.

The author is a freelance writer based in Ohio.