DEFINITION
The transport of water to turf, crops and vegetation.

AKA
Automatic sprinkler system

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
Sustainable irrigation involves an understanding of many aspects of the farm, city or site involved (depending on scale). Used correctly irrigation systems can provide the precise amount of water needed for cultivation and not a drop more. The key to these systems is resource management. Water being the resource, whether reclaimed, gray or potable, management of the following three main aspects will ensure efficiency and conservation. First, scheduling is vital to the system to allow for maximum absorption of water. This also involves an understanding of soil structure (different soil strata have different absorption rates). Scheduling can be improved greatly with the installation of smart controllers, rain sensors, soil-moisture sensors and seasonal adjustments to multiple watering program types. Second, understanding and calculating the evapotranspirtation rate of a system. Simply put how much water transpires from soil and vegetation before being used by the landscape. These rates can be broken down and calculated, this should be done seasonally due to weather patterns. Third and sometimes most important is hardware. General maintenance and upgrades on active irrigation parts are crucial in water management. These parts are susceptible to winter damage depending on local climate. This helps to eliminate long term leaks and loss of pressure to extensive systems that can fall under disrepair.

ILLUSTRATIONS

Crop irrigation (usually not sustainable due to water loss):




Drip irrigation (more sustainable):



CASE STUDIES
UCAL sustainable irrigation project: http://cesonoma.ucdavis.edu/HORTIC/sust_irr_sc.pdf
Queen city eco-village, Shoreline, WA

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES