SCR12.DOC

WHEREAS, according to a United States Environmental Protection Agency report – Outdoor Water Use in the United States, August 2008 – landscape irrigation uses upwards of fifty per cent or more of our household water; and

WHEREAS, poorly maintained or installed irrigation can waste up to fifty per cent of water due to inefficient irrigation practices, poor components, or evaporation and runoff; and

WHEREAS, maintaining and installing water efficient irrigation systems is one of the most effective ways to reduce waste in drinking water, reduce runoff and sediments, and improve plant health by applying the correct amount of water without exceeding the soil infiltration rate; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii's landscape industry is one of the fastest growing and largest segments of the green industry with economic value of over $520 million annually and full time employment of over 11,000 landscape professionals; and

WHEREAS, in 1986, the Landscape Industry Council of Hawaii (LICH) was established as a statewide alliance representing Hawaii's landscape trade associations: Aloha Arborist Association, American Society of Landscape Architects Hawaii Chapter, Hawaii Association of Nurserymen, Hawaii Island Landscape Association, Hawaii Landscape and Irrigation Contractors, Hawaii Society of Urban Forestry Professionals, Kauai Landscape Industry Council, Maui Association of Landscape Professionals, Professional Grounds Management Society, Big Island Association of Nurserymen, and the Hawaii Professional Gardeners Association; and

WHEREAS, LICH supports water conservation, research and development, and the utilization of best management practices to conserve outdoor water usage within the landscape; and

WHEREAS, LICH supports and encourages best management practices for new installations or major renovations, including:

· Irrigation system designs, plans, and specifications, which remain on site and require a coverage test prior to acceptance and water conservation language;

· Particular care in slope plantings to decrease runoff;

· Systems designed to irrigate similar site, slope, sun exposure, soil conditions, and plant materials with similar water use on the same circuit;

· Use of automatic irrigation controllers utilizing either evapotranspiration, weather sensor, or soil moisture sensor, and drip irrigation for individual specimen plants;

· Use of flow sensors with malfunction valve shutoff system capability at irrigation controller, and water submeters that measure outdoor water usage on larger sites;

· Use of water conserving irrigation components and check valves;

· Incorporation of Low Impact Development storm water design methods including infiltration beds, swales, and basins that allow water to collect and soak into the ground on site;

· Preservation of existing native trees and non-invasive vegetation, which do not require irrigation;

· Use of non-potable water sources when available; and

· Use of a qualified irrigation designer such as an Irrigation Association Certified Irrigation Designer CID, Irrigation Association Certified Irrigation Contractor and a maintenance contractor with water conservation expertise; and

WHEREAS, LICH also supports best management practices for maintenance, including:

· Seasonal adjustments to irrigation systems;

· Aeration of lawns when compaction increases, and short run time cycle irrigation in areas where runoff and ponding occur;

· Periodic conduct of a practical water audit to review the system components and verify that the components meet the original design criteria for efficient operation and uniform distribution of water;

· Use of an irrigation controller programmed for long run times to water deeply, evenly and infrequently as possible to encourage deep rooting and increased drought resistance;

· Use of mulch, organic matter in soils, and drought tolerant plants or plants that are naturally occurring at the site and surroundings, and allowing grass to grow taller to conserve water; and

· Attendance of landscape professionals at water conservation seminars with continuing education units (CEU) by American Water Works Association, LICH, or the Irrigation Association; and

WHEREAS, the resource and financial savings resulting from effective use of these best management practices would in turn allow both the public and private sector to plant more "main street" trees within our communities to achieve increased livability and sustainability; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2011, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Legislature encourages the utilization of best management practices in irrigation to conserve outdoor water usage within the landscape; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all state and county agencies and other large water users are encouraged to adopt the Landscape Industry Council of Hawaii Irrigation Water Conservation Best Management Practices to improve the efficiency of all existing and new landscape irrigation installations through low-cost, practical measures; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the LICH continue its efforts to disseminate information in support of water conservation, research and development, and the utilization of best management practices to conserve outdoor water usage within the landscape; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Landscape Industry Council of Hawaii.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

LICH; Landscape Irrigation Best Practices

THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	12
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011
STATE OF HAWAII