plinespring10new:plinespring10 3/22/10 9:59 am …st. petersburg, fl 33707 (727) 343-5600 ext. 60...

www.fisstate.org Spring 2010

PlineSpring10NEW:PlineSpring10 3/22/10 9:59 AM

www.fisstate.org 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FEATURES

10 The World’s Freshwater SupplyWater efficient practices are beginning to make an impact byincreasing the available potable water supply, but are these effortsenough to avoid water shortage situations altogether?

16 Water Savings Through TechnologyNew tools and landscaping projects that utilize the latest technologyto maximize the efficiency of the irrigation system for a Florida-friendlyplant garden are growing.

22 So, Why Water Management?The demand on irrigation service contractors to provide more efficientlandscape water is becoming critical as the water supply is stressed andwater use regulations become even more stringent.

24 How To Become A Certified Florida WaterStar Irrigation ProfessionalThe Florida Water Star program focuses on water efficiency inresidential and commercial developments. The program was createdby the St. Johns Water District following collaboration with the FloridaIrrigation Society and the Irrigation Association.

DEPARTMENTS

4 PRESIDENT MESSAGE

6 INDUSTRY NEWS

28 SALES & MARKETING

30 MEMBERSHIPS

Volume 7, Issue 2: Spring 2010


4 PIPELINE

PresidentMatthew Shreves(251) [email protected]

Vice PresidentMatt Eaton(904) [email protected]

SecretaryKevin Cavaioli(954) 971-7350 ext. [email protected]

TreasurerRandall Heimsoth(386) [email protected]

Pipeline – Editorial DirectorLisa A. Wright726 Pasadena Avenue SouthSt. Petersburg, FL 33707(727) 343-5600 ext. [email protected]

FIS Advertising Manager/Executive AdministratorJennifer AmarosaP.O. Box 13502Tampa, FL 33681Office (813) 839-4601Fax: (813) [email protected]

Copyright 2010 © Pipel ine Magazine. All rights reserved. Pipeline Magazine is aquarterly publication of the Florida IrrigationSociety, located at P.O. Box 13502, Tampa,FL 33681. FIS is not responsible or liable forany errors, omissions or changes ininformation. Reproduction in whole or part isstrictly prohibited.

FLORIDAIRRIGATIONSOCIETY

PRESIDENT’S WELCOME

On March 8, 2010, I had theprivilege to speak the St. John’s RiverWater Management District’s Gov-erning Board at their Rule RevisionPublic Workshop. I spoke after sever-al of the public utility representativesand a group of environmentalists.Some of their concerns mirror ours,and I tried to elucidate our solutions.

What I expressed to the board was much of what I hadpreviously stated in a letter regarding the rule revisions,dated December 21, 2009. I explained the position of pro-fessional irrigators is for water allocation and the allotmentbeing 21 gallons per square foot annually. This number isconsistent with Florida Water Star, the same Florida WaterStar program that was developed by SJRWMD. This wouldchange consumer’s perception about irrigating. Theywould proactively change their irrigation schedules, and inessence hoard their water in case it was needed for futureuse. I suggested to the Board they begin metering self sup-ply wells along with public supply sources. This will givethe Board an accurate picture of water use for all purposes;after all you can’t evaluate what you don’t measure. I pro-posed the District implement a permit and fee for all waterwells four inch and larger. This permit fee would be used tofurnish a meter and an avenue for voluntary reporting. TheDistrict could then audit one percent of those and have avery accurate representation of water use. Further, I sug-gested using cost share money to help utilities invest inwireless water meters and monitoring software that wouldassist in data collection.

We support tiered water rates, the Florida Water Starprogram, and initiatives to use the lowest quality wateravailable for irrigation.

We oppose the proposed rule revision that requires aseventy percent efficiency of the irrigation system. An actu-al irrigation audit would be required to assess compliance.

I also asked them, how were they going to implementthe rule revision that mandated a 60% landscape limit perlot, and a sixty percent turf limit within the landscape?Would they send someone out with a wheel or would theyGoogle Earth the lots? Each of these is labor intensive andunwieldy. Regulating water use is more easily implemented.

I concluded by reminding them that turf grass is goodfor erosion control, reducing urban heat islands, andsequestering carbon.

Judy Benson spoke to the Board as well. She men-tioned the utilities are doing a good job with theirwater conservation efforts, but there is always morework to be done. She stated the FIS provides needededucational opportunities, but homeowners, retailersand lawn maintenance companies sometimes operateout of our influence.

I believe our message was received, but we need toremain vigilante. In the comment period, Vice ChairmanLeonard Wood stated that the District should not beinvolved with writing landscape ordinances. An allocationprogram would dictate plant material. They should alsostick to encouraging simple outdoor water use practices.

At the conclusion of the meeting, no action wastaken. The staff will evaluate all comments for final rulemaking revisions in June.

Matthew Shreves


CHAPTER & INDUSTRY NEWS

6 PIPELINE

After nearly two years of work, a con-sistent stick-to-the-science message andsheer perseverance, the Florida NurseryGrowers and Landscape Association(FNGLA) scored a major industry victoryat the end of 2009.

The South Florida Water ManagementDistrict (SFWMD) unanimously voted toadopt a year-round water conservationrule providing for what FNGLA longsought: 3-days per week (rather than thecurrent 2 days) for lawn and landscape irri-gation. The rule also embraced FNGLA’sgoal of providing 90 days (rather than thecurrent 60 days) irrigation for establish-ment of newly planted landscapes.

Several SFWMD governing boardmembers and stakeholders (includingenvironmental representatives) creditedFNGLA’s insistent adherence to the scienceand FNGLA’s support of the rulemakingprocess as the major factors in successfullyadopting the new rule in the face of stifflegal opposition from the water utilities.

This is a huge victory for FNGLA andfor science which our industry uses as the

foundation for its public policy initiatives.The new rule has a very detailed andambitious work plan of education, trainingand research over the next five years toprove the effectiveness of the 3-day rule.

Rule highlights include:• 2-day-a-week watering in Charlotte,

Highlands, Okeechobee, Orange,Osceola and Polk counties.

• Options for 3-day-a-week wateringin Broward, Collier, Glades, Hendry,Lee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe,Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties.

• No irrigation allowed on any daybetween 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

• Irrigation using reclaimed water, rainharvesting systems and various low-volume methods — such as micro-irrigation, container watering andhand watering with a hose andautomatic shut-off nozzle — is notsubject to restrictions.

• Additional watering is allowed fol-lowing the installation of new lawnsand landscaping for up to 90 days.

More information about the Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Rule is avail-able at www.sfwmd.gov/2days.

CORPORATE OFFICES686 THIRD PLACE • VERO BEACH, FL

(772) 569-3810 • (800) 940-3810 (772) 778-5919 FAX

WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTORSTHE TOTAL ONE STOP SUPPLIER FOR ALL YOUR IRRIGATION, WELL, DRAINAGE, WATER TREATMENT, PIPE, VALVE AND

FITTING NEEDS7 CONVENIENT LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU

Visit Our Website @ www.northsouth.net For Convenient Online Ordering

STUART3200 DOMINICATE

(772) 286-2776

MELBOURNE5 SOUTH WICKHAM

(321) 768-0644

LONGWOOD450 CORPORATE

(407) 331-7473

KISSIMMEE902 SHADY LANE

(407) 932-0011

EUSTIS701 W. ATWATER

(352) 483-0054

SO. DAYTONA1952 S. RIDGEWOOD

(386) 304-6008

FNGLA’s Stance Wins LandscapeIrrigation Results from SFWMD



DIG Corporation’s LEIT-2ET weatherbased solar powered wireless irrigationsystem was named by the IrrigationAssociation as the new product winnerfor the Turf/Landscape Division at therecent San Antonio, IA show. The LEIT-2ET System was chosen as the winnerof the New Product Contest by apanel of judges made up of irrigationprofessionals from around the U.S. TheIrrigation Association award honorsirrigation products that foster newconcepts and innovative technologiesthat improve and conserve future irri-gation water usage around the world.

DIG Corporation’s LEIT-2ET weatherbased system is a new state-of-the-art,ambient light (solar) powered, wirelessirrigation control system that adjustsdaily irrigation programs according tosite and real time weather informationprovided locally by the systems wire-less weather stations. The LEIT-2ET sys-tem is programmed to monitor, con-

trol and adjust irrigation schedules foreach zone through the weather infor-mation received from the solar pow-ered, wireless weather stations alongwith programmed site informationreceived from the LEIT RC2ET handset.The system operates by using ambientlight (solar) power that charges lead-free super capacitors. Requiring no bat-teries, the LEIT-2ET system eliminatesthe need for any power or field wiresmaking it one of the most environmen-tally friendly controllers on the market.

www.fisstate.org 7

2009 IA New Product Award Winner


8 PIPELINE


Rain Bird UnveilsNew Sensors

SWIFTMUDExtends Water

Restrictions As smart technology continues toemerge as a must-have for irrigation sys-tems, more customers are asking contrac-tors for options that are user-friendly, reli-able and affordable. Now, Rain Bird hasanswered the needs of both customersand contractors with its new WR2 WirelessRain and Rain/Freeze Sensors.

After installation and programming, theWR2 automatically senses and measures bothrain and cold temperatures to prevent unnec-essary irrigation, saving water and reducingwear on irrigation system components. TheWR2 interrupts an irrigation controller’s pre-scheduled cycle if one of six programmablerainfall set points (ranging from 1/8” to ½”)or one of three temperature set points (41°,37° or 33° F) is satisfied. By choosing one ofthree irrigation modes, users can 1) allow sen-sor data to determine the irrigation schedule,2) postpone irrigation for 72 hours regardlessof sensor readings or 3) continue with sched-uled irrigation for 72 hours regardless of sen-sor readings. The WR2 also features a “QuickShut-Off” feature that suspends irrigationimmediately during any rain event withoutrequiring significant rainfall accumulation.

The WR2 consists of three durable com-ponents: a controller interface with aneasy-to-read LCD screen, a sensor unit anda self-leveling sensor mounting bracket.

Finding a spot to mount the WR2 is rela-tively effortless, as its superior signal strengthcan overcome most common line-of-sightobstructions such as trees, sheds and walls.Unlike other rain and rain/freeze sensors, theWR2 displays signal strength on both thesensor and the controller interface, making itpossible for contractors to find the bestmounting location without having to returnto the controller. Internal antennas give theWR2 a clean and neat profile that keepsproperty owners happy.

The WR2’s sensor transmits weather databack to the controller interface every 45 sec-onds allowing the device to be highlyresponsive to changing environmental condi-tions. After programming the WR2 with theappropriate irrigation mode, rainfall and tem-perature set points, contractors can save theirsettings using the special “contractor default”feature, making it an easy, one-step processto restore the settings if they are modified.

While the WR2 provides obvious bene-fits to end users, it offers a number ofadvantages to irrigation contractors aswell. “By installing the WR2, contractorscan help customers save up to 35% lesswater, solidifying their reputations aswater management experts.” Muellerexplained. “Plus, because the WR2 is asimple and affordable smart technologyupgrade, it offers contractors additionalrevenue opportunities.”

Southwest Florida Water ManagementDistrict (SWIFTMUD) has extended modifiedPhase II water-shortage restrictions throughJune 30, but it lifted restrictions on pressurewashing for Polk County and 14 other coun-ties in the 16-county district. Marion Countywill continue to follow the St. Johns RiverWater Management District's year-roundwater conservation measures.

According to a SWIFTMUD news release,the governing board voted to maintain mostof the Phase II watering restrictions, includ-ing a once-per-week limit on lawn irrigation,as the district continues to recover from afour-year-long drought. SWIFTMUD officialssay the district is still suffering from a 28-inchrainfall deficit for the past 48 months.

Under the modified Phase II restrictions,pressure washing is allowed for necessarypurposes such as prior to painting or sealing,or to address a health or safety hazard. Pres-sure washing now will be allowed once peryear for any reason. For details, visitwww.WaterMatters.org/restrictions/.


UPCOMING EVENTS

April 6Tampa Bay Chapter Meeting

CDB’s Southside, Tampa

April 13Northwest Florida Chapter Meeting

Perry’s of Niceville LegendarySeafood & Steaks, Niceville

Volusia Chapter MeetingClubhouse Restaurant,

Daytona Beach

April 14Central Florida Chapter Meeting

International House ofPancakes, Orlando

April 20Northeast Florida Chapter Meeting

Location TBA

April 21Southwest Florida Chapter Meeting

Golden Corral Buffet & Grill,Fort Myers

May 4Tampa Bay Chapter Meeting

CDB’s Southside, Tampa

May 11Northwest Florida Chapter Meeting

Perry’s of Niceville LegendarySeafood & Steaks, Niceville

Palm Beach Martin CountyChapter MeetingDuffy’s Sports Grill,North Palm Beach

Volusia Chapter MeetingClubhouse Restaurant,

Daytona Beach

May 12Central Florida Chapter Meeting

International House ofPancakes, Orlando

May 19Northeast Florida Chapter Meeting

Location TBA

APRIL 2010 MAY 2010

For more information, please visit www.fisstate.org or call Jennifer Amarosa at 813-839-4601

www.fisstate.org 9


10 PIPELINE

By Andy Voelz, Toro Company, Florida Irrigation Society Board of Directors

Now that the Florida rainy season has passed, we

approach the drier portions of the year. Water

efficient practices are beginning to make an

impact by increasing the available potable water

supply, but are these efforts enough to avoid

water shortage situations altogether?

A transition from “thinking green” to “living

green” is the key to the sustainability of the

earth’s freshwater supplies and can directly

affect water supply issues. This article will show

you how Americans rank water-related issues,

worldwide potable water situations, local water-

related information and methods of water

conservation that can be applied to everyday life.


www.fisstate.org 11

Gallup Poll Results of Top Environmental Concerns

This table presents a timeline series of the top environmental concerns of Ameri-cans as determined from consistent long-term polling. The data is expressed as thepercentage of respondents who worried about a particular environmental problem“a great deal.” Consistently, the most serious concerns have been expressed aboutwater-related problems, including pollution of drinking water, pollution of rivers,lakes and reservoirs as well as maintenance of the nation’s supply of freshwater forhousehold needs. Around half of all respondents worried “a great deal” about eachof these three problems. However, notice the downward trend of environmentalconcerns since 1990s.


On a global scale, under-devel-oped areas face life-threaten-ing situations dealing withfreshwater supplies. Pollu-

tion, political control, military tactics,sewage and drainage are a few of thefactors influencing these nations’ abilitiesto practice efficient water resource man-agement. The following excerpts werefound on the www.WorldWater.org web-site and detail some extreme situationsrelating to potable water availability:

� A family in Madhya Pradesh(India) is killed by a small mob forillegally drawing water from amunicipal pipe. Others ran to col-lect water for themselves before thepipe ran out. Drought and inequali-ty in water distribution lead to morethan 50 violent clashes in the regionin the month of May and mediareports more than a dozen peoplekilled and even more injured sinceJanuary, mostly fighting over abucket of water. (Singh, Govind,2009, “Water Wars Strike Ahead ofPredictions,” EcoWorldly.com, May16, 2009.)

�On December 3, police clash withhundreds of Mumbai residentsprotesting water cuts. One man iskilled and a dozen others injured.Mumbai authorities are faced withrationing supplies after the worstmonsoon season in decades. (Chan-dran, Rina, “One Killed in MumbaiWater Shortage Protests.” Reuters,December 3, 2009.)

�A protest over the price of water inNyanya, Abuja, Nigeria results inviolence, including the beating ofwater vendors. (Yakubu, A. 2008.“Water vendors protest at Nyanya.”Daily Trust (Abuja), AllAfrica.com.March 4, 2008.)

How does all of this apply to us?In 2009, an ongoing drought in

parts of the United States prompted aban on using sprinkler systems to waterlawns in Tampa, FL. Council ChairmanTom Scott said the drought conditionsforced city officials to ban the use ofthe sprinkler and irrigation systems onarea gardens and lawns starting April 3,2009. “We are in a crisis,” Scott saidafter the Tampa City Council adoptedthe measure. “And it’s going to getworse before it gets better.” Brad Baird,Director of the Tampa Water Depart-ment, that preserving the city’s watersupplies is vital. “This drought maybecome the worst on record,” Bairdsaid. “Our challenge will be preservingenough water to make it through thedry season.”

It’s Not All Doom and Gloom“Take care of the little things and the

big things will take care of themselves.”–Joe Paterno, Penn State University

The simply-stated wisdom from Joe-Paapplies to all situations and can be per-ceived as an excellent method of organiza-tion, productivity, progress, responsibility,success, unity - - all of which are requiredin our daily lives. What can an individualdo to influence the larger issue of waterconservation? What local water choicescan be made to avoid the extreme waterissues faced around the world?

Efforts to expand water conservationtechniques in the irrigation industry haveresulted in increased reclaimed waterusage, water basin based irrigation, rotaryand spray nozzle technology (increasedDu), ET based control systems, enhancedcentral control systems, micro-irrigation,political action, continuing education,efficient landscaping techniques, andoverall more efficient irrigation systems.

Public knowledge is key in water con-servation. The more people reached, themore efficiently water resources will beused. The world’s water supply (in its

12 PIPELINE


14 PIPELINE

Water Saving Tips Insideof the Home

� Install high-efficiency toilets, show-ers and faucets in each bathroom.

�Run your dishwasher when full only.Every load uses about 15 gallons.

�Run your clothes washer when fullonly. It uses from 16-41 gallonsper load.

�Turn off water while brushing yourteeth and save up to 8 gallons perday or 240 gallons per month.

�Shaving — just fill the sink with alittle water and rinse your razor. Youcan save up to three gallons.

�Rinse vegetables in a sink full ofclean water instead of continuouslyrunning water.

�Washing dishes. Fill one side of thesink with clean water to rinse dishesafter you wash them.

�Refrigerate a container of drinkingwater, so you don’t have to run thetap to cool it.

Water Saving Tips Outsideof the Home

�Water your lawn deeply andless frequently.

�Avoid over-watering and runoff.�Adjust sprinklers to water the lawn,

not the pavement.�Schedule irrigation for early in the

morning or late in the evening.�Water only what your plants need.

Trees, shrubs and groundcover needonly half the water of grass.

�Modify watering schedule monthly.�Plant vegetation that is native to

the area and follow wateringinstructions. Planting non-nativetrees and shrubs may requireover-watering.

�Use a broom instead of the hose toclean outdoor areas, like patios.

�When washing your car, use a self-closing hose nozzle or turn off thewater between rinses.

various physical states) remains con-stant, as it is neither created nordestroyed. Introduction of pollutantsand excessive usage of freshwater sup-plies remain the top issues of concern.

The challenge now lies in evolvingfrom “thinking green” to “living green”in our everyday lives. This article pro-vides methods to begin affecting waterconservation decisions in everyday life.Please continue the conversations withyour peers about the importance ofresource conservation, especially in theirrigation industry. Another Joe-Pa say-ing, “You have to perform at a consis-tently higher level than others. That’sthe mark of a true professional.” Thisdefines the role of irrigation and land-scaping professionals - the responsibilityto educate the public and practicemethods of efficiently utilizing theearth’s limited resources.


By Alan Yoder, Polk County Utilities

Comparison of Water Consum

WATER SAVTHROUGH TEC

16 PIPELINE

A“smart technology demon-stration garden” was plantedin 2005 at the Polk CountyUtilities Administration Build-

ing. This served to educate the public onFlorida Friendly Plants and gardens. Thisfine example was the motivation forlandscaping projects that utilized the lat-est technology to maximize the efficien-cy of the irrigation system for a Florida-friendly plant garden.

A comparison of water consumptionwas made between the a residence and acounty building: One used an efficientlydesigned irrigation system supplied from ashallow well with a water meter andincluded climatologically-based smart irri-gation controls, soil moisture sensors,rotary nozzles, drip irrigation and Florida-


www.fisstate.org 17

umption Using “Smart” Tools

VINGSECHNOLOGY:

friendly plantings all working together tomaximize water savings. The other used abasic irrigation timer that had to be pro-grammed by the homeowner and providedpotable irrigation for a lot 0.21 acres in size.

The .30 acre residential site with theefficient irrigation system contained about40% irrigated lawn, 28% mulched irrigat-ed flower beds and 32% for the houseand paved patios and driveways. Do notmake the assumption that a high techdesign comes with low maintenance.There were problems with sand cloggingthe micro-screens on the MP rotors usedfor lawn irrigation on the shallow wellapplication. While these rotors areextremely efficient, the heads neededcleaning and adjustment over the firstyear. Pets were also a problem since the

drip irrigation emitters were removed bythe pets in the yard.

The drip irrigation tubing had to beadjusted, reattached and sometimesreplaced monthly as it was found to bemissing. One design feature lacking onthe manufacturer’s drip tubing designwas that there were no barbs on theconnectors, so it was easily disconnect-


18 PIPELINE

ed. The drip irrigation device should beredesigned to include lock tight connec-tors on all drip emitters. The wellrequired freeze protection for severaldays in January 2009.

A summary of water use was madecomparing the 0.21 acre residential prop-erty with the 0.30 acre residential sitewhich has the smart timer. This compari-son showed the smaller residential homeon 0.21 acres utilizing potable water for

the home and for irrigation used 323,000gallons at a cost of $2,077.43 (total utilitycosts for water and wastewater.)

The residential home on 0.30 acresusing a smart timer used a total of 236,000gallons of water. This was based on the sumof 69,000 gallons of potable water insidethe home at a cost of $909.51 and167,000 gallons of well water for irrigation.The savings over a two-year period shouldpay for the installation of the irrigation well.

Consumption Comparison


The data collected with over 13 monthsof data shows that water can be saved byusing smart timer technology. This com-parison shows a larger landscaped area canbe efficiently watered and remain healthywhile using approximately 87,000 gallonsless water for irrigation when the smarttimer technology is allowed to operate.

The cost for the landscaping usingFlorida-friendly plants was $8,000. Othercosts were $4,500 for the installation ofthe irrigation system utilizing smart con-troller technology and two soil moisturesensors. A shallow well was installed for$2,000 for a water source and additionallighting was added to the landscaping for$1,000. The irrigation system requiresmaintenance, repair and adjustment toachieve the designed maximum efficiency.

Irrigation with potable water is expen-sive and can waste water by using poorlydesigned irrigation systems. Even with anefficient irrigation system installed, thehomeowner can counteract the benefitsof smart timer technology by setting the“Bypass Switch” to override the automa-

tion and manually run the irrigation sys-tem. This results in the overwatering ofthe lawn and the mulched flowerbeds.

This cutting edge technology works,but does require a heightened sense ofawareness to be sure all the compo-nents are working as intended. Themost efficient systems are those thatare well planned, accurately installed,properly managed and utilize technolo-gy with the proper plant installation.Using all the tools and informationavailable promotes sustainable waterconserving landscapes.

www.fisstate.org 19


TRIBAL KNOWLEDGE

20 PIPELINE

What Willthe MarketWhat Willthe MarketBear?By Kevin Colesworthy, Sales Manager, TWC Distributors, Inc.

Bear?


TRIBAL KNOWLEDGE

www.fisstate.org 21

Who knows how muchmore you could beearning if you neverpushed the envelope

forward? Writing proposals and con-tracts that are based primarily on whatthe last project went for, or, a worry thatit’s too soon to raise prices is not onlyholding YOU back but the entire indus-try as well. Have you given up trying tomake more? If so, you’d better get outnow because you will not be able tocontinue your business playing it safe.

Those of you that have been readingmy articles for the past two years maythink that I just don’t get it. Believe me, Ido understand that the jobs just don’troll in the doors anymore and, if you geta chance at it, there’s always someonethere that submits a “There’s No Way InHell” price. I have the same challenges indistribution more than you can imagine.We’re all in the same boat and I’m tiredof paddling!

I think the problem is that everyonehas become “pricers” instead of “sellers”.We’ve lost the ability to investigate theproject via the designer, developer, gen-eral contractor, municipality, landscaper,builder, nursery, etc., etc., etc. By notunderstanding the job, you probablyhave moved miles away from leveragingyour professional ability to do it right indeference to a “bid it to get it” strategy.

Recently, I was told that manufacturersand distributors are trying to sell productfor prices that are higher than the marketwill bear. Huh? The market will bear ahigher price if we focus on making moneyrather than buying it or selling it cheaperthan the next guy. Why not instead justifyyour unique grasp of how it needs to bedone and what it will require. Knowledgeand current information has a value that alow price can’t match. Do you have aresource you can trust? Maybe you need ameeting with the boss once in a whilerather than the employee to get a clearerpicture of the business we’re in.

I can promise you that there are anumber of individuals in a variety of irri-gation positions and companies thathave no idea what’s going on with prices(costs) of materials. Some will advertisethat they have a new, lower and contrac-tor-friendly price. What they don’tunderstand is there are more reasons forus all to not take the bait.

� Buying more than you need is dumb.

� Pushing the lower price out on your quotes is stupid.

� Failing to know that your overheadexpense just went up exponentiallydue to new tax rates is ignorant.

� Selling at lower prices is INSANE!

The average Joe Contractor/Distrib-utor/Manufacturer on the street does-n’t know that copper has increasedroughly 40% in a year, but youshould. He could care less that PVCpipe prices can change like the roomrates in Vegas. He also doesn’t knowthat he’s been sending out bids basedon the old prices because he’s notreaching out for information fromsomeone qualified to share it. If youdon’t know what’s going on, you’dbetter start asking someone other thanyour regular “guy” because he’s prob-ably in the dark.

Low prices don’t mean that heknows something you don’t. It’sprobably just the opposite. Your goalis to make money on every sale. Theold saying that, “five percent is bet-ter than nothing” is wrong. You’ll besurprised at how many people justwant to know that you take pride inyour work and are professional in thejob you do. They’ll pay for confi-dence. Be THAT guy.


22 PIPELINE

The definition of “water manage-ment” depends on who you askand where you are in the world.In Florida, we are blessed with

plentiful fresh water and rainfall. Thewarm climate and verdant landscapeshave attracted boundless development,causing an ever-increasing demand forwater and placing significant pressureon our water resources.

It is common knowledge that up to50% of the domestic water supply inFlorida is used for landscape irrigation.The relationship of irrigation practicesand landscape water requirements areobvious as the water supply is stressedand droughts occur from time to time.

The state of Florida contains fivewater management districts that areresponsible for the management ofground and surface water and waterconservation. The districts establish andenforce water use restrictions as well asissue and manage permits for waterusage and consumption.

Developers, communities and otherproperty owners are feeling the pressureof these restrictions and permit require-ments. Violation notices and fines fornon-compliance are becoming morecommon as restrictions and permits aremore strictly enforced.

The demand on irrigation service con-tractors to provide more efficient land-scape water is becoming critical as thewater supply is stressed and water useregulations become even more stringent.

Irrigation contractors in Florida nowhave a real opportunity to become theleaders in managing landscape water.With good knowledge of efficient irriga-tion best practices, irrigation contractorsare equipped to influence property own-ers to water responsibly and effectively.

Today, many cash-strapped propertyowners focus on cutting maintenancecosts, especially those for irrigation andlandscaping. It is up to the Irrigation con-tractors to demonstrate to their clients thatinvesting in efficient irrigation practices will

By Donna Hoover, LEED AP Hoover Pumping Systems

WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE…

So WhyWaterManagement?


www.fisstate.org 23

cost less in the long run, protect the land-scape from damage or loss, and ultimatelyreduce the maintenance budget.

The following information may help youexpand your knowledge and awareness:

� Our neighbors in California, wherewater availability is a crisis, therecent study “Urban CII LandscapeWater Use & Efficiency in Califor-nia,” prepared for the CaliforniaLandscape Contractors Associationsuggests that conversion from turfto other irrigated plants may notresult in lower water use. In otherwords, efficient water managementis far more important than planting“politically correct” plants.

� The Water Audit, a crucial irrigationpractice that produces detailedinformation about actual systemperformance in the field, recom-mendations, and, where applicable,cost benefit analysis, should be per-formed on all irrigation systems bycertified irrigation auditors.

� Watering Cycles: Many wateringschedules benefit from cycles, aneffective water conservation meas-ure. Cycles per day means that thewatering on a given day is brokendown into smaller increments,allowing the water to penetrate thesoil more deeply to the root zone ofthe plant. This stops wasted run-offand, if soil moisture sensors arebeing used, allows them to detectadequate moisture levels that pre-vent excess irrigation from beingapplied. Too frequent, shallow,watering is a common cause of shal-low roots and unhealthy plants thatsuffer greatly when droughts occur.

� Simple, low or no cost ways tomaximize landscape water savings:

• Water trees first; they keep the area cooler.

• Check for leaks on a regular basis and fix them immediately.

• If there is an available water meter, learn to read it to determineif there are leaks.

• Runoff means wasted water. Norunoff means the water is beingabsorbed by the soil.

• Turn on each sprinkler zone andsee how much time it takes to startgenerating runoff for each zone.Round sprinkler time down to thenearest minute and set that time asthe maximum run time for each sta-tion. Program the controller for mul-tiple run cycles.

• Mow lawns higher and less fre-quently. Do not take off more than25% when mowing.

� Overwatering: Plants and trees suf-fer without enough water, but over-watering can be equally as damag-ing. Water-soaked soil prevents airand nutrients from reaching theplant roots. Wet soils invite prob-lems like root rot and other plantdiseases that result in serious dam-age and eventual cost of replace-ment. Excess watering encouragesthe growth of weeds, causes rapidgrowth of plants that need moretrimming and mowing, and depletesimportant nutrients from soil result-ing in the need for more fertiliza-tion. Last but not least, over-water-ing also runs the risk of violatingwater restrictions and exceeding theallowed usage as required by theWater Use permits.

Investment in further education* andspecific irrigation knowledge is essentialfor Florida irrigation contractors if theyare to lead the effort to adopt efficientirrigation and landscape water manage-ment practices…and well before itbecomes a serious crisis.

*Note: The Florida Irrigation Society andother educational resources offer manyopportunities for increased irrigation knowl-edge and competency.


24 PIPELINE

Water conservation is receivingincreased attention in Florida,whether brought on by a grow-ing population, climate change

or through water supply discussions.The St. Johns River Water ManagementDistrict has been committed to waterconservation for many years, having putthe first water-conserving rule relating tolandscape irrigation in place nearly 20years ago.

Among the district’s most successfuland ever-expanding endeavors related towater conservation in recent years is Flori-da Water StarSM program, which focuseson water efficiency in residential andcommercial developments. The programwas created following collaboration withthe Florida Irrigation Society and the Irri-gation Association on the development ofthe irrigation criteria, and that collabora-tion continues today. Goals for the irriga-tion criteria include saving 40 percent ofoutdoor water over traditional irrigation,increasing distribution uniformity andefficiency of the system.

Similar to the federal Energy Star® pro-gram but with a water conservation focus,the District’s Florida Water StarSM certifica-tion program encourages water efficiency inhousehold appliances, plumbing fixtures,irrigation systems and landscapes. The pro-gram offers a third-party certified inspectionto guarantee water efficiency in new homeconstruction and for renovations.

The district launched Florida WaterStarSM in 2006, and the first house was

certified in July 2006 under the pro-gram’s Silver tier. Numerous local gov-ernments support the program throughincentives and rebates, and the pro-gram is offered in the South and South-west Florida Water Management Dis-tricts as well as in the St. Johns District.

Criteria for certification focus on effi-ciency and cost-effectiveness for theproperty owner. The program isdesigned for a broad range of homes,from a condominium with no yard to anolder home on a half-acre lot with anaging irrigation system.

Homes are certified under a “tiered”system (Bronze, Silver and Gold) and quali-fications points lists offer ways for everyproperty owner to succeed in obtainingcertification for their water efficiency effortsboth indoors and in their landscapes.

Under the Gold tier, for example, a resi-dence must achieve additional points and

How To Become A Certified Florida Water StarSM

Irrigation ProfessionalBy Ed Garland and Deirdre Irwin, St. Johns River Water Management District


meet more rigid requirements than in theSilver tier. A Gold tier certification allows nomore than 50 percent high-volume irriga-tion on a residential property, while alsorequiring that numerous design prerequi-sites are met. The Gold tier, unlike theBronze and Silver tiers, also includes waterquality best management practices, such asthe use of organic mulches and unirrigatedplant beds near shorelines and seawalls.

Indoors, a Gold tier home must includehigh-efficiency toilets, low-flow faucets andother indoor water efficient appliances.

The district launched the latest tierof the residential version, the Bronzetier for existing homes, in fall 2009.This tier offers homeowners a menu ofoptions to retrofit their homes to anew water efficiency standard. As withSilver and Gold, the Bronze tierencourages efficiency in the landscapeand indoors.

Participation in any of the program’sthree tiers requires:

• Limiting high-volume irrigation

• Using only micro-irrigation in land-scape beds

• Locating sprinkler heads no closerthan two feet from any building

• Installing appropriately-sized sprin-kler heads for the turf species used

• Using check valves in low lying areas

• Irrigation systems to have matchedprecipitation

• Head-to-head spacing for all sprin-kler heads

• Irrigation system design drawingsand schedule information to be per-manently located by the controller

Optional criteria include furtherlimiting high-volume irrigation, usingpressure-regulated spray-heads or sys-tem-wide pressure regulation,installing soil moisture sensor con-trollers or ET controllers, and harvest-ing rainfall or using alternate watersources for irrigation.

Florida Water StarAccredited Professionals

To provide continuing education forpracticing landscape and irrigation profes-sionals, the district is developing a FloridaWater StarSM Landscape and IrrigationAccreditation Program to assist in design-ing and installing systems for Florida WaterStarSM builders.

Two types of certification programs willbe offered: Florida Water Star AccreditedIrrigation Professional and Florida WaterStarSM Accredited Landscape Professional.

To achieve certification as a FloridaWater StarSM Accredited Irrigation Profes-sional, applicants must pass the FloridaWater StarSM irrigation exam and must bea Certified Irrigation Contractor. Forthose seeking certification as a FloridaWater StarSM Accredited Landscape Pro-fessional, applicants must pass the Flori-da Water StarSM landscape exam andhold a current credential as a licensedlandscape architect or certified landscapedesigner. Florida Water Star irrigation

www.fisstate.org 25


26 PIPELINE

and landscape workshops will be avail-able to assist in preparing for either ofthe two exams.

The accreditation program will pro-vide an opportunity for landscape andirrigational professionals to enhancetheir credentials in sustainable land-scape and irrigation design. Upon

achieving a Florida WaterStarSM accreditation, irri-gation and landscapedesign professionals mayuse the Florida WaterStarSM logo in promotingtheir businesses.

Florida Water StarSM

can be effectively integrat-ed into projects alongwith other programs suchas Energy Star®, the Flori-da Green Building Coali-tion’s (FGBC) green stan-dards and the U.S. Green

Building Council’s LEED program. FloridaWater StarSM focuses on Florida’s uniquewater resource constraints, and can there-fore further enhance the effectiveness ofother green certification programs.

For more information about Florida Water Star,visit the program’s website atfloridawaterstar.com.

This years’ event will offer: • A unique opportunity to interact with the state’s top policy makers and

learn what new guidelines are in store for you!• Educational opportunities including Certified Irrigation Contractor & Florida Water Star

• The latest innovations in irrigation technology• Learn about local water rebates

• Meet with manufacturers• Ascertain how contractors overcome the same challenges you face


SALES & MARKETING

28 PIPELINE

By Jeff Carowitz, Strategic Force Marketing

So you’re seeing many nationalconsumer products companiesdive into social marketing: Face-book, Twitter, YouTube, and

more. It seems to be a great way to sellcoffee, cell phones and disposablerazors. But is it a useful tool for compa-nies in the landscape industry?

Before you dive into creating a com-pany Facebook page or launching ablog, understand whether these newmarketing tools can generate fantasticleads and relationships, or if they mightabsorb more of your time than theirworth. Most of these tools are free orlow cost to use, but require a significantamount of effort on your part to createcontent and manage participation.

Studies show that over 70% of majorpurchase decisions are researched byconsumers on the internet. Most qualitycontractors have made a strategic invest-ment in a web site and many are usingtools like pay-per-click advertising to drivecustomers to it. So where do these so-called “Web 2.0” social media tools fit in?

According to the book Groundswell:Winning in a World Transformed by SocialTechnologies, experts recommend thePOST method (People, Objectives, Strate-

gy, Technology) to plan how your compa-ny should leverage social media tools.

PEOPLE: Understand your customersand what they’re ready to embrace. Areyour customers still using phone callsand e-mails, or are they tweeting andblogging? How many of your clients areon Facebook, or are they more theLinkedIn type? Their current behaviorsare the best guide of what they will do.Take care not to use your own prefer-ences and biases as representative ofwhat your customers will use.

OBJECTIVES: Put simply, what doyou hope to achieve through socialmedia? Typical goals are buildingstronger relationships with currentclients or increasing referrals to newclients. “Trying it out to see what hap-pens” is seldom a good goal with socialmedia marketing.

Many companies begin by simply lis-tening: reading blogs and messageboards, observing customers interactingon line and then using the learning toshape improved products and services.Listening also doubles as a strategy tosee if there really is an audience for yourproduct or service.


www.fisstate.org 29

SALES & MARKETING

Others adapt social media tools tobroadcast focused messages, hoping toreach and engage tightly targeted audi-ences. For example, one contractor discov-ered passion about drip irrigation amongrosarians (experts in growing ornamentalroses) and turned that into increased sales.

Some organizations use social mediato ignite their base of loyalists. If youhave a tribe of chest-thumping devoteesthat wear your logo with pride, socialmedia could be for you.

STRATEGY: How will social mediahelp you positively change your interac-tion with customers? For example, canyou get customers to refer you moreoften electronically than they do verbal-ly? Can it build customer loyalty? Areyou hoping to get insights into nextgeneration products or services? Itrequires a significant investment inTIME, both for you and the participant.Make sure that something “fun” alsodelivers real value.

TECHNOLOGY: Only after you havedetermined your audience, your objec-tives and your big-picture strategy, is ittime to think about tools. Don’t dive inwithout a plan “just because others aredoing it”. Those Facebook invitationsfrom your golfing buddies don’t neces-sarily mean that you should start with aFacebook page.

There are many tools: blogs, podcast-ing, broadcasting (Twitter), user-generat-ed video (YouTube), social networkingsites (Facebook, LinkedIn, Bebo, hi5),information collaboration (Wikipedia),forums and ratings (Google Local, Angie’sList, Yelp). Get some good advice onwhich will best achieve your objectives.

An irrigation industry veteran, Jeff Carowitz is aconsultant with Strategic Force, a full-servicemarketing firm for landscape industry business-es. Find him on LinkedIn or at [email protected].

INTERNET AND SOCIALMEDIA “DO’S AND DON’TS”

FOR CONTRACTORSDO:

� Have a web site that showcasesyour company’s unique strengthsand capabilities. Customers willcheck you out on the web beforecalling you.

� Make sure your site can be foundeasily via search engines usingboth organic (SEO) and pay-per-click (PPC) tools.

� Take advantage of free socialmedia services to draw more visi-tors to your site.

� Consider starting a blog to havefresh content associated with yoursite and draw visitors with uniquekeywords and stories. Hire some-one to help you with content.

� Engage a web design firm thatunderstands your industry and whyyour customers buy your type ofservice. You’re trying to sell yourservices, not just look pretty.Collect e-mail addresses from yourcustomers for an e-newsletter.

DON’T:� Tolerate a poorly-designed web

site for your company. Amateurishgraphics and mis-spelled words area dead giveaway of an unprofes-sional operator.

� Consider starting over rather than patching a weak web site.

� Fall for promises of hucksterspromising fantastic search resultsfor your business. Nobody foolsGoogle. Nobody. Save yourmoney for measurable campaigns.

� Sign up for every possible socialmedia opportunity (blog, Face-book, etc.) and then allow all to godormant due to lack of attention.

Visit the Florida Irrigation Society'sFacebook Page at:http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=280526558269&ref=ts


FLORIDA IRRIGATION SOCIETY, INC.APPLICATION FOR 2010 MEMBERSHIP

Company: ______________________________________________ Phone: ____________________

Address: __________________________________________________ Fax: ____________________

City/State/Zip: __________________________________________ E-Mail: ____________________

Person to be designated as Voting Representative: ________________________________________

Name/Company of FIS Member Sponsor: ______________________________________________

MEMBERSHIP CATEGORY DUES AMOUNT ENCLOSED

_______________033$rerutcafunaM.A

B. Distributor, Dealer, Mfg. Rep. $275 _______________

_______________002$rotcartnoC.C

_______________002$.A.L ,.E.P ,tnatlusnoC.D

_______________002$rotarepO metsyS noitagirrI.E

TOTAL AMOUNT ENCLOSED $ _______________

THE FIS ALSO HAS MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES FOR SUPPORTING, ASSOCIATE,TECHNICAL, AND STUDENT MEMBERS. IF YOU FEEL THAT ONE OF THESE CATEGORIESIS APPROPRIATE FOR YOU PLEASE CONTACT THE FIS AT (800) 441-5341.

PLEASE MARK THE APPROPRIATE CLASSIFICATION(S) FOR YOUR MEMBERSHIP

Have you or your company ever been a member of the FIS before? ________________________

If so, when and how was the membership listed? ________________________________________

Are you a member of an FIS Chapter? If so, please name chapter. __________________________

If application for membership is accepted, the undersigned agrees to comply with the bylaws andminimum standards and specifications of the Florida Irrigation Society.

_________________________________________ _________________________________________Signature of Applicant/Date Signature of Sponsor/Date

Return with check to: FIS, P.O. Box 13502, Tampa, FL 33681

As a membership benefit, FIS will publish licensed contractor members (from counties thatrequire testing) in the Membership Directory and on our Web Site (www.fisstate.org). Ifyour business is located in a county that requires an irrigation contractor license throughtesting and you wish to be included in this listing, please provide us with your licensenumber and county.

LICENSE #_________________________________ COUNTY______________________________

1. Installer of irrigation systems2. Dealer in irrigation equipment3. Distributor in irrigation equipment4. Irrigation system design only5. Manufacturer6. Manufacturer’s Rep7. Well Driller8. Registered Professional Engineer

9. Registered Landscape Architect10. Certified IA Designer11. Operator of irrigation systems12. Certified Water Evaluator13. List Other Certifications:

________________________________________

________________________________________

30 PIPELINE


Flor

ida

Irri

gati

on S

ocie

ty,

Inc.

P.O

. B

ox 1

3502

Tam

pa,

FL

336

81


plinespring10new:plinespring10 3/22/10 9:59 am …st. petersburg, fl 33707 (727) 343-5600 ext. 60...

Documents