AWWA SOURCES59262

The Texas WaterWise Council, a public-private partnership of water providers, regulators, landscape industry representatives, and private citizens, engineered, developed, and is now marketing a slide-rule tool, the Landscape Irrigation Calculator, that incorporates the variables of average rainfall, evapotranspiration (ET), plant type, and inherent irrigation system inefficiency into calculations yielding scientifically determined irrigation water requirements. Applying irrigation water in a volume closely matched to plant need provides for healthier plants and eliminates a great deal of water waste. Homeowners, irrigation professionals, grounds managers, and water providers can all benefit from various uses of the Landscape Irrigation Calculator (Calculator in this paper). The Calculator's versatility makes it a practical tool for use by irrigation installers, who can demonstrate to customers the financial advantages of installing an efficient irrigation system. Grounds managers can use the Calculator to establish irrigation scheduling. Water providers can use the Calculator for troubleshooting high water bills and for water budgeting. Includes 5 references, figures.