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County Offers Irrigation Evaluation

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By TONY MARRERO

Published: June 7, 2008

SPRING HILL - For their age, Don Durell's pipes didn't do so bad.

Durell's home in Seven Hills was built in 1989, and the irrigation system is original.

A recent checkup revealed a leaky valve, but other than that, "he had overall a pretty good system, actually," said Wayne Vance, owner and president of Sunshine State Sprinkler Co.

Durell got the checkup for free through a county program that aims to save water by encouraging residents to make sure their systems are in good working order.

As part of the Irrigation Evaluation and Audit Program, the county pays contractors such as Vance to check the system, seeking out leaks and ensuring sprinkler heads are pointed in the right direction.

The technician also offers a lesson, or at least a refresher course, on how the systems works and provides maintenance tips that could save money — and grass — in the long run.

The homeowner is responsible for the cost of any repairs, but is not obligated to hire the contractor who performed the audit.

Participants who don't already have a rain sensor, which automatically turns off a system when the rains come, can get one installed free of charge.

It's a joint program between the county utilities department and the Southwest Florida Water Management District, known as Swiftmud. The two split the $50,000 annual cost.

Participants must be Hernando County utilities customers and using county water, not their own wells, to irrigate.

It will be money well spent, said Alys Brockway, the county's water conservation coordinator.

More than 50 percent of the county's residential water use goes to outdoor uses such as watering lawns, so the potential for conservation is considerable, Brockway said.

The county tracks the water use of each participant before and after the evaluation. Data from the pilot portion of the program showed an average savings of 8 percent for the two dozen participants.

"If we use just what we need, we make a significant decline in the amount of water we use," Brockway said.

The program is fashioned after similar initiatives in the cities of Tampa and St. Petersburg, said Brent White, water conservation analyst for Swiftmud.

Studies showed participating homeowners in the Tampa program saved an average of 180 gallons per day. In St. Pete, participating customers saved an average of 254 gallons per day.

In a county such as Hernando with a block rate system that charges more per gallon after a certain threshold, that make for less wincing when the water bill arrives.

In many cases, Vance said residents can save money in the long run by updating or altogether replacing old irrigation systems and incorporating drip irrigation into the new designs.

Vance said he doesn't pressure people into hiring him for the repair or replacement work. He said his goal is to save residents money by arming them with knowledge to help them do the kind of routine maintenance that can minimize service calls.

"I want to give them as much information as possible so if someone else does come out they don't get taken advantage of," Vance said.

"Checking your sprinklers is like changing your oil," he said. "Whether you take your car to a garage or do it yourself, it's something you really need to do."

For information on the county's irrigation evaluation and audit program, call 352-540-4368, ext. 35121.

Reporter Tony Marrero can be reached at 352-544-5286 or lmarrero@hernandotoday.com.

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