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20 Green Media July 2014 www.greenmediaonline.com Q&A near the cost of supplying it. There's only one way to generate enough water for the population. Higher water rates are com- ing, and we'll see dramatic increases in cost. There remains a myopic assumption in the industry that turf managers always will have the water they'll need. But increas- ingly we're seeing big park & rec facilities that are spending a lot of money on water starting to explore developing and using alternative sources. The high-end collegiate and professional venues don't really think much about the cost of water; they use potable water almost exclusively. It's cheap. But they're starting to have storm water regulation issues, so we're designing drainage in the fields as storage and detention basins to meet storm water require- ments. There's not a big leap of faith to move from storm water detention to harvesting water for reuse. In the future, a prominent part of any irrigation system is going to be subsurface cisterns to secure water for irrigation, and filtration systems to render that water usable. We'll be off the municipal water and sewer systems; off the grid entirely. I think the green industry is starting to understand that, as green codes continue to trend toward net-zero water. Unless the industry gets ahead of this, we'll be walking the plank and the plank will be cut off. We need to get off the public systems and intercept water before it gets off site. ASIC: What irrigation system devices most determine perfor- mance and durability in sports venues? JLB: Sports facilities definitely offer a different perspective. We have to ensure the safety of the athletes using the facility. That absolutely affects our irrigation equipment choices. One of the sports turf industry's biggest challenges is that irrigation systems are falling apart because to keep costs down at the design-installation phases, piping is being undersized resulting in over-pressurized systems. We get it — irrigation is judged by upfront costs; not longer-term costs. But by small-sizing the pip- ing, a system's life expectancy can be cut by as much as half, and certainly opportunities for efficient water use go down. These systems lose a lot water and turf when they fail, plus too much pressure simply deteriorates efficiency. So we're bal- ancing two things: throwing water a long way to keep irriga- tion equipment off the field, which requires higher pressures; but keeping operating pressures as low as possible to minimize physical wear on equipment. We specify larger pipe and head sizes so velocities are reduced, and wear and tear are minimized. That's one key to extending the irrigation system's life. It abso- lutely requires some salesmanship. Another component for consideration, particularly in sports fields, is controller systems. They're almost too sophisticated. Oftentimes the features the average controller provides are way overdone. We like to keep it simple. Today's groundskeepers need more diagnostic tools than features. For example, moisture content is incredibly valuable information. There's an oppor- tunity for turf managers to employ more moisture-sensing technology in their management toolbox. Fixed or portable, they provide a quantitative measure of soil moisture content for more effective water management. ASIC: What are your best design components, from irrigation control systems to sprinkler heads to piping and quick-couplers to pressure regulation to soil prep? JLB: We find a full range of equipment in manufacturers' catalogues to solve most any specific problem. If you have high pressure, then pressure regulation is important at every stage, from mains to laterals. Using pressure gauges helps you identify spikes and better understand your system. Isolation valves reign king. Although considered a luxury by some, the ability to isolate sections of a loop system in the event of a breach saves time, turf and equipment. Strategically placed isolation valves can be a manager's best friend in a crisis. It's important. And then there are the smaller details, like accessing quick couplers for spot watering or syringing; or using quality swing joints instead of funny pipe. Not every solution is a big, impres- sive piece of equipment. High-performance systems should include all arrows in your quiver to maintain a performance- tuned operation. Certainly stainless-steel risers are important on sand-based facilities. Use the irrigation manufacturers' catalogue for distinct ben- efits that address system or site idiosyncrasies. There truly is a piece of equipment for every potential problem. When you look at big sports complexes, the upfront cost of irrigation equipment is really pretty small compared to the cost of maintaining the fields themselves. It seems short- sighted to save $100 on a cheaper controller, but pay someone $25 an hour to adjust the runtimes. You might save that hundred bucks up front, but shell out $30,000 over a 20-year period. We need to be more sophisticated in our cost evaluations. ASIC: Do you work off a template you've developed over the years or is every ball field project so unique that you start from scratch? JLB: For years we would design irrigation for a stadium think- ing it looked like the previous stadium. So we'd pull out our old project plans and specifications, and tweak them. We real- ized at some point that each facility just became its own project. There's ample uniqueness to sports fields and facilities that we have to start from scratch with each one. And it's not just the quirkiness of the sites; turf managers also are unique in their management needs and preferences. Most fields are used a number of different ways, so the param- eters change with each project. There are different needs for lacrosse than football, than soccer, than rugby, than concerts, than car shows. Different uses are going to affect the overall design. Luke Frank is a freelance writer who submitted this article on behalf of the American Society of Irrigation Consultants, www.asic.org. LI