Proven examples of how to save water with existing landscape irrigation systems and maintain low water usage.

1. Copyright 2009 by
Keesen Water
Management, Inc. 1
Landscape Irrigation Systems
And
Implementing Changes For Less Water
Use & Long Term Sustainability
Presented By
Larry Keesen
Keesen Water Management

2. Copyright 2009 by
Keesen Water
Management, Inc. 2
What we’ll Cover:
 Audit Recommendations That Will Work.
 Design for Existing Irritation systems.
 Quality Monitored Installation.
 Proper System Operation & Maintenance.
 Develop Water Budgets & Monitor Actual Use.

3. Copyright 2009 by
Keesen Water
Management, Inc. 3
Audit Recommendations
Will They Work?
 Smart Controllers & Rain Sensor. OK
 Replacing Heads with Pressure Control & Check Valves
if Head Spacing is “Head-to-Head”. Usually.
 Control High Pressure - Pressure Reducing Devices. OK
 Increase Low Pressure-Lower Flow Nozzles. Caution.
 Replace Spray Nozzles with Rotator Nozzles. Caution.
(Application rate is Lower & More Runtime is Required.)

4. Copyright 2009 by
Keesen Water
Management, Inc. 4
Audit Recommendations
Will They Work? (cont.)
 Raise Heads if Spray is Blocked by Turf. Yes
 When Distribution Uniformity is Below 60%:
And one or more apply:
 Pressure at heads are to low to meet recommended
optimum operating pressure.
 Head Spacing is erratic and stretched.
 The system is over 30 years old.
Then consider:
 Installation of a New Irrigation System. Best

5. Copyright 2009 by
Keesen Water
Management, Inc. 5
Design for Existing Irritation systems.
 Distribution Uniformity Above 70%.
 Correct Water Pressure at the Head.
 Consider Rotator Nozzles.
 Use Subsurface Drip for Turf & Beds.
 (Highest Uniformity at 90% or Higher.)
 Limit Run Time to 10 Hours per Day.
 Zone for Exposure & Application Rates.

6. Copyright 2009 by
Keesen Water
Management, Inc. 6
Quality Installation.
 Precise Spacing of Sprinkler Heads.
 Correct Nozzles & Arc Settings.
 Heads Set Plumb & at Correct Height.
 Verify Water Pressure at the Head.
 Designer Check for Proper Installation
 Furnish “as-built” record drawings.

7. Copyright 2009 by
Keesen Water
Management, Inc. 7
Proper System Operation &
Maintenance.
 Post Operating Schedules & Zone Location Map in
Clock.
 Reset Controllers Monthly According to Seasonal
Demand.
 Check, Adjust & Repair Equipment Weekly After Mowing.
Identify System Leaks & Repair Promptly.
 Inspect System at Activation & Verify Pressure is Same
as Previous Year.
 Replacement Hardware for Repairs Must Match Original
Equipment.
 Require an Audit Every 5 Years by a CLIA.

8. Copyright 2009 by
Keesen Water
Management, Inc. 8
Water Budgets
vs. Actual Use.
 Water Budget is Based on Historical ET.
 Water Budget for Turf Should not Exceed:
 15 Gallons / 24 Inches per Square Foot.
 For Plants See GreenCO BMPs, Appendix E:
Plant Water Requirement Estimates.
 Monitor Water use vs. Water Budget.
 Give Budget to System Operator.

9. Copyright 2009 by
Keesen Water
Management, Inc. 9
Sustainable Water Savings
 Benchmarks to Determine Turf Water Savings
 Average annual historical ET for turf grass is 30-inches.
 Add system efficiency at 80% & the turf water requirement total
is 24-inches or 15 Gal. annually per sq. ft.
 Document metered water use & savings after renovation.
 Our experience with project water savings and the
various results are documented on the following pages:

10. Copyright 2009 by
Keesen Water
Management, Inc. 10
Pilot Program 2000
 ECCV Water District sponsored Greenfield
/Liverpool Irrigation System Evaluations &
Pilot Program.
 Two streetscapes across the street from
each other.
 The problem symptoms with these new
systems were runoff, overspray, and high
water bills.

11. Copyright 2009 by
Keesen Water
Management, Inc. 11
Pilot Program (cont.)
 Results from the Greenfield /Liverpool
streetscape system evaluation in 1999:
 High water usage:
 Greenfield 61.7-inches/38.5 gal. sq. ft.
 Liverpool 63.0-inches/39.3 gal. sq. ft.
 Heads installed too low – spray blocked
 High pressure – up to 78 psi
 Low head drainage
 Low pressure in some areas–as low as 15 psi

12. Copyright 2009 by
Keesen Water
Management, Inc. 12

13. Copyright 2009 by
Keesen Water
Management, Inc. 13
Pilot Program (cont.)
 During the winter of 1999-2000 the
Greenfield/Liverpool irrigation systems were
renovated.
 New spray heads were installed with 4-inch pop-up
height, check valves and pressure control. New
nozzles were installed to better control the spray.
 Check valves were installed in rotors.
 Rain & freeze sensors were installed on controllers.
 Goal was to be at 30-inches annually or lower.

14. Copyright 2009 by
Keesen Water
Management, Inc. 14
Pilot Program (cont.)
 Actual Annual Historical Water Use in Inches/Sq. Ft.
Before After
Site: 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Greenfield 63.9 61.7 77.3* 50.1 42.6 39.5
Liverpool 49.0 63.0 30.0 28.5 22.6 19.6
Under Construction
 The same contractor was operating both Greenfield and
Liverpool in 1999. Separate contractors were used in 2000.
 ET in 2000 increased 14 % above 1999 ET
 *Swimming pool overflowed several times during season.

15. Copyright 2009 by
Keesen Water
Management, Inc. 15
Pilot Program (cont.)
 Actual Water Savings:
 Greenfield 2001 usage went down from 61.7 to 50.1-
inches.
 Swimming pool overflowed several times in 2000, data was
unreliable.
 2001 usage down by 20 % .
 Three year savings of 2.7 million gallons or 8 acre feet.
 Liverpool 2000 usage went down from 63.0 to 30.0-
inches.
 Down 53 % first year.
 Four year savings of 4.5 million gallons or 14 acre feet.

16. Copyright 2009 by
Keesen Water
Management, Inc. 16
Pilot Program (cont.)
 Renovation Costs and Savings
Total
Site: Area Renovation Cost Payback Water Savings
Greenfield 82,740 $ 11,100.00 4.7 years $ 7,155.00-3 year
Liverpool 47,880 $ 7,492.00 2.9 years $11,379.00-4 year
 Water Savings: 2000 2001 2002 2003
 Greenfield $ 0 $ 1,463.00 $ 2,421.00 $ 3,272.00
 Liverpool $ 2,214.00 $ 2,521.00 $ 2,952.00 $ 3,691.00
What Happened?
 Both sites were identical and in the same area.
 The big difference was in the way the systems were operated.
 Separate contractors were maintaining Greenfield and Liverpool and
both were given instructions on how to operate the system.

17. Copyright 2009 by
Keesen Water
Management, Inc. 17
Pilot Program (cont.)
 How the results could have been improved
 Installation of flow sensor & central control.
 Installation of ET controllers.

18. Copyright 2009 by
Keesen Water
Management, Inc. 18
Pilot Program (cont.)
Conservation Pays for itself
 The Pilot Program clearly showed that
water conservation guidelines, coupled
with proper renovation of existing irrigation
systems can save water, and much more
can be saved if the irrigation system is
operated and maintained properly.

19. Copyright 2009 by
Keesen Water
Management, Inc. 19
The Meadows
The Meadows, Castle Rock
 In 1994, we performed an irrigation system evaluation
for The Meadows Metropolitan District 37-acre
streetscape. Water use was 47-inches Sq. Ft.
 In 1997 the irrigation system was renovated with
conservation design and equipment. The Town of
Castle Rock agreed to loan the money to the
Metropolitan District and also agreed to pay future
water costs if we saved 30 percent on water use.

20. Copyright 2009 by
Keesen Water
Management, Inc. 20
The Meadows (cont.)
 Year Gallons Inches/SQ. FT. $ COST/VALUE SAVINGS
 1996 44,500,000 47 $89,890.00
 1997 19,051,000 19 $38,483.00 57%
 Annual Savings: 25,449,000 gallons, 78 acre feet, 28-INCHES, $51,407.00
 The City of Castle Rock, Colorado now pays the water costs and Keesen
Water Management, Inc. has received a Water Conservation award from the
Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado.

21. Copyright 2009 by
Keesen Water
Management, Inc. 21
VILLAGE at FOUR LAKES
2000 2001 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
IRRIGATION USE m/GAL: 11,646 11,905 5,528 3,994 5,250 6,941 5,665 7,610
AREA
SQ
FT:
500,000
Acres: 11.48
ANNUAL INCHES/SQ.FT. 37.4 38.2 17.7 12.8 16.8 22.3 18.2 24.4
ANNUAL GAL/SQ.FT. 23.3 23.8 11.1 8.0 10.5 13.9 11.3 15.2
ANNUAL ET INCHES: 37.8 38.3 37.2

22. Copyright 2009 by
Keesen Water
Management, Inc. 22
Summary
 Conservation works when irrigation systems are
properly designed and installed, but greater
savings can be obtained when experts operate
& audit the irrigation system.
 Key elements for landscape water conservation.
 Efficient Irrigation Design & conservation equipment.
 Construction Quality Control
 System Operation
 Regular Maintenance.