Tools for Water Conservation:
Tools for Water Conservation:
Long Range Solutions
Long Range Solutions
Glen Schmidt, FASLA
Glen Schmidt, FASLA
Schmidt Design Group, Inc.
Schmidt Design Group, Inc.
www.schmidtdesign.com
www.schmidtdesign.com
Phone 619-236-1462
Phone 619-236-1462

Long Range Management and Maintenance
Long Range Management and Maintenance
Glen Schmidt, FASLA
Glen Schmidt, FASLA
Lawn…Bag it? – NO
Shrubs…Ball them? – NO
Irrigation…Watch it ? – YES!

Improving Irrigation Efficiency
Irrigation Distribution of Uniformity (DU) Glen Schmidt, FASLA
Glen Schmidt, FASLA
DU based on the Irrigation Association’s ‘Best Management Practices 2005’
DU based on the Irrigation Association’s ‘Best Management Practices 2005’
Drip Irrigation .80 Rotor Spray .70 Fixed Spray .55

New irrigation technology is improving
New irrigation technology is improving
Glen Schmidt, FASLA
Glen Schmidt, FASLA
Weather Based Irrigation Controllers Increasing Distribution
Uniformity for spray heads
from approximately .55 to .7

Landscape Renovation:
Landscape Renovation:
Saving Water // Regional Character
Saving Water Regional Character Glen Schmidt, FASLA
Glen Schmidt, FASLA
Regional Character: • Coastal
San Diego County covers 4,225 square
miles with four regional microclimates. Plant • Inland Valleys
selection should be appropriate for the • Mountains
microclimate, as well as sense of place. • Deserts

Case Studies
Case Studies
Glen Schmidt, FASLA
Glen Schmidt, FASLA
Case Study 1 Case Study 2
Multi-family, low income housing projects built and managed by a private
Multi-family, low income housing projects built and managed by a private
development company. Located 1/2 mile apart in the City of San Diego.
development company. Located 1/2 mile

Case Study 1
Case Study 1
Design water use: B
2,239 hcf / year = 16.6 gal./s.f./year Glen Schmidt, FASLA
Glen Schmidt, FASLA
18% under state water budget mandate of 2,738 hcf
Landscape area 100,650 s.f.
Low water use perimeter shrubs (.2 Kc / .7 DU) 16%
Low water use foundation shrubs (.2 Kc / .5 DU) 10%
Moderate water use foundation shrubs (.5 Kc / .5 DU) 54%
Artificial turf (0) 20%

Case Study 1
Case Study 1
Actual Water use 2008: C Glen Schmidt, FASLA
Glen Schmidt, FASLA
3,076 hcf / year = 22.8 gal./s.f./year
Maintained 37% over design water budget

Case Study 2
Case Study 2
Design water use: C Glen Schmidt, FASLA
1,908 hcf / year = 20.7 gal./s.f./year Glen Schmidt, FASLA
At state water budget mandate of 1,915 hcf
Landscape area 69,154 s.f.
Low water use perimeter slopes (.2 Kc / .7 DU) 17%
Low water use perimeter shrubs (.2 Kc / .5 DU) 30%
Moderate water use foundation shrubs (.5 Kc / .5 DU) 37%
High water use cool season turf (.8 Kc / .7 DU) 16%

Case Study 2
Case Study 2
Actual Water use 2008: D+ Glen Schmidt, FASLA
Glen Schmidt, FASLA
2,225 hcf / year = 24 gal./s.f./year
Maintained 16% over design water budget
Note: The project includes perimeter low water use shrubs where no water
is currently being used. If this variable was removed the site is potentially
being overwatered by as much as 50% above the design water budget.

Conclusions
Conclusions
Glen Schmidt, FASLA
Glen Schmidt, FASLA
#1 Priority - Improve Water Management
• Both projects were maintained over their design water budgets
• Water consumption report card grades likely can be improved without
physical changes to the projects.
Retrofitting / Renovations:
• Improve irrigation efficiency: Example: from spray to drip resulted in a
higher report card grade for both Case Studies.
• Reduce turf areas or convert from cool season grass to warm season
grass. Example: Would improve Case Study 2 to a higher report
card grade.
• Changing to all low water shrubs: Example: Could move both Case
Studies to a higher report card grade.
RESULTS FOR DESIGN BUDGETS

Tools for Water Conservation:
Tools for Water Conservation:
Long Range Solutions
Long Range Solutions
Glen Schmidt, FASLA
Glen Schmidt, FASLA
Schmidt Design Group, Inc.
Schmidt Design Group, Inc.
www.schmidtdesign.com
www.schmidtdesign.com
Phone 619-236-1462
Phone 619-236-1462