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www.greenmediaonline.com July 2014 Green Media 29 undesirable playing conditions on the course. Another challenge is the buildup of salts from the effluent water supply, which must be monitored very carefully. Tools to manage water Landscape architects have more tools, knowledge and tech- nology than ever before to create spaces that reduce water usage, yet still are appealing to the eye. Design Landscape architects are designing their projects to conserve water by using the lay of the land to create specific areas where water is drained and can then be reused. Additionally, architects are sensitive to the types of plants that are used, ensuring those that require more water be kept to a specific area, so others are not over watered in the process. In geographies with hilly terrain, architects are using low areas to capture water. The water is then routed to waterbeds for reuse. In the past, these beds were situated at the top of hills and would strictly collect rainwater and not the runoff that is captured at the bottom of the hills. Understanding the area and the uses for the space is key to creating an efficient plan. If the space receives a lot of foot traf- fic, the design might have to account for more water to be used there. In the past, an architect would design areas for specific activities, but it is now no longer just the function, but also the water used in the activity (the more activity in a particular zone, the greater the possibility of higher water uses). The focus on these areas has led to a better use of water in landscape design. Using surface area runoff, when excess water from rain or snow flows over the land, is a way to save energy and money for businesses, creating a need to keep water onsite. It is becoming more common to install underground tanks to collect water and pump it out through the irrigation system. But where does that water come from? One design that is appearing more frequently is the use of permeable surfaces in spaces such as parking lots where grass grows both around and throughout the concrete surface in a grid pattern. This grid pattern enables water to seep in, collect and be reused instead of being diverted into storm drains where it overburdens the drainage system. Other areas where excess water gathers include the con- densation of air conditioning units and the roof, which is the largest collector. Although most of these methods are used in commercial buildings rather than residential, water collection from the roof is common for homeowners who are looking to be water conscious. Rainwater harvesting The technique of rainwater harvesting continues to grow in popularity, both in residential and commercial spaces. A rainwa- ter harvesting system collects rain — from a roof or other non- permeable surface — in basins or tanks and recycles it for irriga- tion and other applications. Homeowners and businesses using this technique save money by avoiding the need to buy water from the city, and also contribute to water preservation efforts. Rainwater harvesting is especially useful in areas of the country where there are restrictions to how frequently people can water their lawns. In these areas, rainwater can be pumped through a hose or irrigation system and used on the landscape. The system usually follows an easy retrofit process, making it a simple solution for those looking to conserve water. Technology During the past 30 years, irrigation technology has been enhanced greatly, with the largest improvement seen in control- lers. Older electro-mechanical units had no program flexibility, but newer digital units are highly customizable to meet any variety of water needs or fit municipalities' water conservation guidelines. Today's controllers enable the user to separate certain areas of the landscape, such as beds and turf, and use different watering levels for each. This ensures that each area remains watered to optimal levels, while conserving where possible. Larger, more advanced systems even use satellite weather data to provide the user with daily evapo-transpiration (E.T.) values to better manage water use. Pump stations have also evolved. The new software programs available manage power and efficiency better than ever before with the use of variable frequency drives (VFD). VFD technol- ogy enables the control of the AC motor speed and torque by varying the input frequency and voltage to match the system demands. As demand increases, the VFD speeds up to match the needs of the irrigation system, which helps control efficiency. Education Throughout the country, there is an increased push to educate the public about water conservation. Certain cities have started water conservation programs to encourage residents to take part in the effort by using techniques such as rainwater harvesting. For example, for a reduced price, Fort Worth, Texas, provides homeowners a rain barrel they can use to collect water for applica- tions such as watering lawns or gardens. The city also has enacted a marketing campaign to encourage residents to conserve water. The future Water conservation will continue to be a hot topic among landscape industry professionals in 2014 and beyond. The market is poised for an increase in measurement tools, such as flow sensors and moisture sensors to better manage how much water is used. There will also be an increase in reverse osmosis (RO) systems for irrigation use. RO systems to remove salt are no longer only used on the coasts, but are now popping up inland due to salt appearing in lakes and streams in many places, such as western Texas. Landscape architects can continue to design spaces that are not only functional, but also help conserve water. By encouraging the use of water management systems and informing custom- ers of these methods, the United States can continue to curb its water usage — saving not only this resource, but also money. Dan Gregg is the central regional sales manager of prepackaged pump stations for Flowtronex, a Xylem brand. He is a Registered Landscape Architect, Texas Licensed Irrigator and EPA Water Sense partner with more than 35 years of experience in landscape irrigation design, consulta- tion and sales.