Throughout the past 20 years, landscape irrigation has evolved from a luxury to a necessity – for many good reasons.
During this time, every region in the United States has had to learn the harsh realities of drought conditions. As a result, the more progressive state agencies and water districts are doing as much as possible to plan for the inevitable, and doing so requires the input of irrigation professionals. Owners and operators of virtually any facility must maintain its grounds, seek solutions to preserve turf aesthetics and perform in the face of unforeseen but routine challenges that Mother Nature brings our way. And as residential water use restrictions become increasingly common, the public at large is realizing that water is not to be taken for granted.
DEMAND DRIVERS. Fueled by this growing appreciation among more water-smart end users, irrigation design has progressed from being an extension of the sales department of a manufacturer or distributor to the technical discipline that it is today. Advancements in everything from nozzles, plastics and sensors to computerized automated control systems, water treatment and subsurface drip technologies are contributing to the demand for professionally designed and managed irrigation and water management systems.
Also driving the growth of our industry and our association is the greater realization among end users of the escalating costs of water usage and the need to find alternative water resources to combat drought and shrinking supplies. Remember, there’s a finite amount of water on this earth. Growing demand requires that water be used and managed as efficiently as possible. Huge inefficiencies and waster result from poorly designed and installed irrigation systems. Fact is you will taste water without a professionally designed system. It’s that simple.
GROWTH OF PROFESSION. The amount being spent on construction of irrigation systems produced by the professional members of the American Society Irrigation Consultants (ASIC) exceeds more than $712 million, up more than 30 percent from five years ago. We can expect to reach the billion-dollar level within a couple of years as needs rise in the many sectors served by ASIC professional members, including sports turf and golf, public works, and commercial and residential real estate development, among others. The non-profit group Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), formed to created standards for high performance buildings, has set new requirements for water-efficient landscaping. This creates new opportunities for the professional irrigation consultant prepared to meet exacting standards.
Those of us who have devoted many years to this profession are especially gratified to see the growing body of industry knowledge and increasingly high standards governing our business. As customers’ expectations rise, so must our capabilities. The exchange of ideas and interaction among ASIC members contributes to our collective efforts to raise the bar for performance. At the same time, irrigation is making its way into educational curriculums at the college level, which speaks to the profession’s growing popularity, importance and sophistication. In some circles, we’ve been able to abolish the myth that irrigation systems waste water. If irrigation is wasting water, then it’s because someone bought a bad design or doesn’t know how to operate the system – or both. Independent professional irrigation consultants can prevent that from happening.
Today, the professional members of ASIC and associated industry combine a broad and firm grasp of environmental and soil sciences. They are up to date with the changing regulations and requirements and offer total mastery of the irrigation equipment and technologies being produced by world-class manufacturers in our field.
EDUCATING INFLUENCERS. Ironically, the growth and success of the industry have also created some of our most pressing challenges. In some states, there are efforts underway to prohibit irrigation consultants from practicing without a license. On one hand, we might have only ourselves to blame for this unfortunate development because we haven’t placed as much emphasis as we should have on educating legislators and regulators at every level about the very things that our customers know so well – that irrigation is the solution, not the problem. It requires a great deal of experience, skills and technical expertise to produce a quality irrigation solution that will conserve energy, water and money. We’re not just talking hoses and sprinklers here, although that’s the impression of people without exposure to our industry.
There’s a chance we’ll be penalized for this lack of understanding among key influencers who don’t know what we do or the value we offer. Reaching out to those individuals – one on one, if that’s what it takes – and explaining who we are is a top priority for us as we head into the New Year. We’re prepared to pursue licensing of irrigation consultants if that’s what it takes. Based on legitimate criteria, licensing will only protect the end user – and we’re all for that.
The author, Jim Barrett, is president of the American Society of Irrigation Consultants.