In a state like Florida, which is subject to drought or near drought conditions for large parts of every year, there are strict rules about the amount of water that can be used for irrigation. For this post, we thought we'd focus on the 10 things we know should be built into a plan to achieve both.
A Constant Need to Fine Tune and Adjust
Better irrigation practices will help communities maintain the condition and appearance of the vegetation surrounding all of the residences in a development while saving water and protecting their investment. Saving water these days isn't a "set and forget" activity. There are regulations dictating the days of the week on which people are permitted to water their lawn, depending upon the district they live in, the time of the year and, in some cases, whether they live in an odd or even numbered house. There's a constant need to fine-tune and adjust the way water is used and our attitude to its place in our lives. Everyone wants pleasant green spaces too. So how is it possible to level these two needs without unnecessary compromise?
It's true that our irrigation pump stations and control systems enable communities to maximize the impact of irrigation at the same time as reducing the amount of water being used. It also helps that our 24/7 irrigation management support and the warranties we offer on our equipment gives everyone huge confidence in their irrigation operation.
All too often, however, the irrigation planning is heavily focused on how budgets can be kept tight on equipment - water pumps, zone placement, sprinkler heads and lakes or ponds - and of course, this is vitally important. However, today, the best developers are looking to the future and that's especially true for the period up to and including turn-over. They're not only looking for a complete irrigation service they're looking for an irrigation solution that will stand the test of time.
In our experience, residents and HOAs find it harder to implement good water use practices - and are less motivated to do so - when they face constant irrigation issues. It's just too much to think about on top of everything else.
Can Developers Get it Right From the Start?
We think so. With the right irrigation installation in place alongside such considerations as the right plantings, intelligent planning of pathways and roads and efficient clustering of homes for example, residents can enjoy an environment where they have confidence in their entire irrigation operation. This in turn leads to less time and money spent on irrigation repairs, maintenance and resources and homeowners are motivated to spend more time looking at, and implementing, best practice.
A Water-Saving Attitude
When it comes to things like water consumption, an irrigation operation that enables a "water-saving attitude" can be built into a community from the earliest possible stages and help ensure buy-in from the people living there. Making the right choices when a community is being developed can feed into the buildings, the plant life, the topography of the landscape, the use of natural water supplies and the presence and protection of wildlife. Most importantly from a developer's perspective, it sets the scene for a smoother hand over.
10 Ways to Build-in best Water use Practices into a Residential Community Landscape
An overarching plan and the right plants
Plan the landscaping with an overarching, community-wide view rather than on a property-by-property basis. This will enable the creation of aspects such as pedestrian trail systems to encourage interaction with the landscape. The use of Florida native plants will also make it easier to create surroundings which require minimal intervention to remain in optimum condition. The use of the right plant life can also attract wildlife, create shade in communal areas and establish walkways which hold up well to heavy footfall.
Absorb the rainfall
Utilize ponds which can be designed or adapted so that they take on excess water during periods of heavy rainfall, which can then be drawn from when conditions are dryer. When choosing the materials to construct pedestrian paths, driveways, sidewalks and parking areas it is best to make use of pervious concrete. This will enable rainfall to be absorbed through the surface and make its way to the water table, rather than simply washing away and being wasted as is the case with impervious surfaces.
Low maintenance built into the landscaping
Design the vegetation of individual residences so they can be maintained largely through natural rainfall in the future. This will involve an in-depth analysis of the plants, the chemistry of the soil they are being planted into, the average rainfall in the area throughout the year and the impact which the location and positioning of buildings will have. Overhanging eaves, for example, will restrict the amount of rainfall making its way to the ground directly beneath them, and this will have to be factored into the type of plants situated there and nearby.
Roadside swales
Rather than incorporating curbs and guttering along the side of roads consider swales. These are shallow, broad, vegetated channels which store and channel any excess runoff water from the pavements and roads. Rather than simply channeling the run-off away as wastewater, swales enable it to be absorbed back into the groundwater where possible, or to stimulate the growth of additional vegetation.
Eco-friendly paths
Small depression basins can be included in the landscape to allow rainwater to collect and feed slowly into the eco-system, while communal paths can be surfaced with environmentally friendly options such as pine needles and crushed shells.
