Ventura Landscaping – Irrigation and the California Water Law AB 1881
We can take care of any and all of your irrigation needs. Everything from fixing broken sprinkler heads, to a completely new irrigation system design and installation. Landscaping in Southern California almost always requires irrigation; our arid climate makes it necessary. New water laws in this state are also taking effect that require more efficient landscape irrigation. California AB 1881 is a water law, which took affect in 2010, that mandates new rules for all types of water, whether it be clean drinkable water or untreated sewage water. Much of the law targets landscape design and irrigation for commercial, industrial, and residential uses. Here’s a few important things to consider when planning a new landscape all while following this new law.
Hydrozones: When we plan a new design, we’ll choose a low water use plant pallet. Once we have a general layout, we’ll layout the planting into hydrozones. Basically, a hydrozone is a planting area where all the plants have similar water needs. By planting in hydrozones, we can reduce water waste and have healthier plants that get the necessary amount of water needed to be sustained; no over-watering, no under-watering.
Spray vs. Drip: When most people think of irrigation, they immediately think spray. This is about to change. New water requirements will push irrigation to mostly drip with little to no spray. Drip irrigation is over 90% efficient at delivering water to the source. It gets the water directly to the necessary plant with almost no waste from over-spray or evaporation. Spray heads, however, are only 60% efficient with over-spray and evaporation being the biggest problems.
Home Weather Stations: Small weather stations are the new rage. These stations make irrigating hassle free. They are typically attached the side of the house and are very discrete. By entering in types of plants and soil, the system can determine how much plants in each hydrozone need to be watered and for how long. It adjusts it’s calculations and the watering schedule on a daily basis as determined by weather readings. We’ve installed a number of these stations. Compared to other ‘green’ home improvements such as solar panels which can cost tens of thousands of dollars, these hi-tech devices only cost hundreds, and compared to regular timer boxes, usually less than $100 more. The savings over time is HUGE. Whether you want a completely new irrigation system, or you have an existing system but just want the weather station and timer, give us a call and we can set up one of these advanced systems for you.
