Landscape and Irrigation is read by decision makers throughout the landscape and irrigation markets — including contractors, landscape architects, professional grounds managers, and irrigation and water mgmt companies and reaches the entire spetrum.
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/391459
www.landscapeirrigation.com Landscape and Irrigation October 2014 21 development of green infrastructure. Onsite treatment of waste water for reuse, especially for vegetated areas, needs to become a priority and be more cost effective. Wightman: Energy and water go hand in hand. Unfortunately, many policy decision makers don't understand this correlation. Lack of education is probably the number one challenge that we all face, while trying to deal with the many policies and procedures that are being mandated at a regional level. New, efficient irrigation equipment is being developed and installed, but until the basic contractor/designer is educated on the purpose of the product and proper installation techniques, water waste will continue to take place. Bruce: One of the biggest challenges is revising water rights laws. A few states consider rainfall that falls on your roof as water of the state. This prevents the individual from harvesting or impounding water on their property and using it. Another challenge is recognizing the beneficial use of graywater and adjusting the health codes to better align to the risks associated with its use. Peck: If you could change one public policy governing water, what would it be? Gorowitz: Water pricing. It's quite a complicated and controversial topic, but we need to revisit how water is priced in North America. When water is priced accordingly, people will value it more as a precious resource. In the political realm it's difficult to advocate for raising water prices. Bruce: Waste or harvested water can very quickly become classified and subject to regulation, which limits its use. Developing a classification system, which allows water to be more broadly classified so that different waste water sources could be blended or combined would begin to provide the economic basis to implement the reuse of water on a much wider scale. Peck: Can you provide some examples of innovative green infrastructure projects that have achieved net zero water or that have moved close to this goal? Gorowitz: The International Living Future Institute has some great resources on their website including best management practices and a guide to navigate the regulatory pathway towards net zero water. Bruce: We are living in an exciting time in terms of water innovation. There are hundreds and hundreds of initiatives at the federal, state and local levels that are attempting to validate the concept of net zero water. Two of the more prominent initiatives are the Department of Defense program to make eight army bases net zero water and a 250,000-square-foot multiuse development in Portland attempting to achieve net zero water. Peck: Why is water so important to you? How do we continue to build the industry and spur innovation in policy and design? Gorowitz: Water is life! Without water we can't survive. As net zero water projects and other innovative projects are built, we have to take the time to highlight them, create case studies and educate everyone on their benefits and how they work. At some point this just becomes the way projects are constructed and it becomes the norm. Wightman: Water is what makes us tick. There are many jobs related to the water industry — both landscape and agriculture. More education is required. Bruce: The more interesting fact to consider when looking at wastewater of all types is that a huge volume of water goes unaccounted for in our system. If we can be creative and innovative in managing and treating these sources of water, we can find all the water we need for green infrastructure without increasing demand. Peck: Why are you supporting the development of Green Roofs for Healthy Cities' Net Zero Water Boot Camp training? Why is designing for net zero important? Gorowitz: Ewing has been supporting the Integrated Water Management program since its inception because we believe that it's the best educational program out there to provide detailed training and knowledge for green industry professionals. The new Net Zero Water Boot Camp training gives the participant a complete education on how to design for net zero water. The manuals that were developed with this class are top notch. Without this program and its focus, future developments will be limited by their water availability. Bruce: The green movement has set its sights on water rightfully so, but it has misunderstood the role of water in the urban context. I am of the belief that it is unlikely that the promise of green infrastructure can be achieved in such highly disrupted urban systems without allowing water to be directed to green infrastructure. Net zero becomes the primary mechanism whereby green infrastructure obtains the water it depends on simply by diverting and treating wastewater sources. Its benefits all involved. FIND OUT MORE Attend CitiesAlive: Green Roof & Wall Conference, Water: The Key to Everything Green in Nashville, Tenn., Nov. 12-15, 2014. www.citiesalive.org. Attend the launch of the Net Zero Water Boot Camp training in Nashville November 11-12, 2014. www.citiesalive. org/training. LI