Consider alternatives to potable water for landscape irrigation
26 Oct, 2010 By: Andy Smith, CIC, CID, CLIA i-newsIt is not very often we are asked to reach for the bottom, aim low or to strive for low quality. When it comes to landscape water sources that is exactly where we are headed. Lawns and ornamental plants do not require drinking quality water to survive and as time passes, it will become more difficult to follow tradition and use drinking water on the landscape.
Every major sustainability program with the exception of EPA’s WaterSense program, offer some form of incentive or credit for using alternatives to drinking water on the landscape. As programs such as USGBC’s LEED, the Sustainable Sites Initiative and the Green Building Initiative gain traction, local units of government are adopting local codes and regulations that limit drinking water use on the landscape. (See links below.)
Meanwhile, the International Code Council is well into the development of the International Green Construction Code, which in current draft form, contains extensive guidance as to how local and state governments can regulate and require landscape water sources come from sources other than drinking quality water.
So what can you do to prepare your business for this trend? Aim low. As you develop project designs, ideas and proposals, think about viable, alternatives to domestic water.
Is there a source of municipally reclaimed/recycled water? Is there a way to harvest rainwater from roofs, hard surfaces and site runoff? What about industrial process discharge, condensate or gray water? Each of these sources can supplement or completely supply the needs of the landscape with what it needs and reduce demand on drinking water supplies and infrastructure.
One thing to note, these uses are in various stages of development, standardization and regulation. It is critically important to check with local or state authorities governing this type of use to make sure your activities comply with applicable standards, code and regulations. There is a reason these water sources are not drinkable and it is important to follow applicable guidance. In some cases, such as rainwater, guidance is still emerging so in the absence of such guidance, look to organizations such as the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (www.arcsa.org),
Whatever you do, it is important to position your company as an innovative solutions provider. While this trend may seem burdensome, it is real and it is not going away. Remember, the landscape is uniquely positioned to be a watershed enhancement when water reuse strategies are included as part of a comprehensive landscape planning process. The center of that planning process is you, the landscape professional.
For more information on sustainability programs:
ccsafe.org/cs/igcc/pages/default.aspx
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