Toro hosted the company’s first WaterSmart “Success Without Excess” Symposium on July 19 at Toro’s irrigation development and testing facility in Riverside, Calif. Nearly 200 leaders and stakeholders in water conservation attended the event.
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“It’s important that we work together to increase understanding about using water more efficiently and responsibly,” says Phil Burkart, vice president and general manager of Toro’s Irrigation Division. “Initiating an open and productive discussion of water management initiatives and strategies among key industry stakeholders will ultimately help conserve our precious water resources.”
The one-day event featured presentations from some of the industry’s leading experts, including Mary Ann Dickinson, executive director of the California Urban Water Conservation Council. Other speakers included: Tim Blair, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California; Eric Anderson, Valley Soil; Ed Torres, Pro-Active Land Development; Tom Kimmell, Irrigation Association; Brian Vinchesi, Smart Water Application Technology (SWAT); Sandy Clark, CGCS, Barona Creek Golf Club; and Karen Guz, San Antonio Water Systems. All of these industry professionals have implemented successful water-saving techniques and shared their stories and recommendations during the symposium. Attendees also were treated to lunch, a tour of the facility and product demonstrations.
“The WaterSmart Symposium gave attendees a glimpse of what the irrigation industry is doing to develop more efficient, real-world water-saving techniques and systems,” Burkart says. “These water-saving practices will benefit a wide variety of stakeholders including homebuilders, golf course professionals, landscape contractors, water agencies, and other important constituents.”
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Topics of discussion included the latest trends in water management, practical water-conserving irrigation solutions, the relationship between irrigation and water conservation issues, legislative and regulatory considerations, expanded industry efforts in water conservation, why conserving water is good for business, the importance of industry collaboration, and the future of irrigation and ‘smart’ technologies.
“The theme for this event was ‘Success Without Excess,’ which emphasizes that the business of irrigation can be both lucrative as well as environmentally responsible,” Burkart says. “There are many irrigation stakeholders who are enjoying incredible success as a result of offering water-saving irrigation programs and strategies.”
The symposium coincided with Smart Irrigation Month, which was recognized June 8, 2006 in the Congressional Record and by the United States Department of Agriculture. The Irrigation Association identified July, a peak month for irrigation usage, as Smart Irrigation Month to raise awareness of advances in irrigation efficiency.