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Highlands Today

Mobile Lab Will Help Homeowners Conserve Water

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By JIM KONKOLY

Highlands Today

Published: October 12, 2008

SEBRING - Earlier this year, the Highlands County Soil and Water Conservation District had no trouble giving out 1,100 free low-flow shower heads to help people conserve water.

Early next year, the agency will launch a much more ambitious water-saving project, aimed at helping homeowners reduce the water they use to maintain a healthy lawn.

A free service will be offered in which teams of two people will analyze a home's irrigation system, determine if too much water is being used, and then advise the owners on how they can reduce water use while maintaining a beautiful lawn, said Corinne Burgess, natural resources specialist with Soil and Water Conservation.

"Giving out the low-flow shower heads was a first step," Burgess said. "But this would be a giant step if we can reach the people out there and help make their irrigation systems more efficient."

Staff and volunteers trained in efficient lawn irrigation will visit homes in a mobile irrigation lab. Nineteen such mobile labs operate in Florida, covering either a single county or a regional area, and have proven effective in reducing water use, Burgess said.

"We have the potential not to save small amounts of water, but to save huge amounts of water," Burgess said. "There could be millions and millions of gallons of water saved if we can be successful at this."

Numerous studies show that homeowners often use too much water in their lawn sprinkler systems, Burgess said.

"Usually, there are little things people can do that can make a big difference," she said. "For example, they may be advised to adjust the sprinkler heads (for volume), maybe they're watering too long, and maybe the stream of water is watering an area that doesn't need it. There are many ways you can make your water use more efficient."

Burgess points out that water efficient sprinkling systems are also cost effective.

"This is not only about saving water, which is a precious natural resource, but also about saving a homeowner's money," she said. Reducing lawn irrigation to only what is needed drops a homeowner's electricity bill as well as their water bill, she said.

In Lee County, the mobile irrigation lab service, directed by Jim Nikolich, visited 177 homes in one year. Nikolich reported giving advice on reducing and modifying lawn irrigation that would save a projected 45.8 million gallons of water per year.

"It's a tried and true way of conserving water," Burgess said.

Nikolich has been running Lee County's mobile irrigation lab for 10 years and is widely regarded as one of the top experts in Florida. Burgess said she's lining him up to help train staff and volunteers who will run the Highlands County mobile irrigation lab.

"He has told me he'll help us in any way he can," she said.

Burgess is recruiting volunteers who can be trained in this field and visit homes to analyze sprinkler systems. People interested in volunteering can contact her at 853-402-6545.

The Highlands County Soil and Conservation District has been trying to launch an urban mobile irrigation lab for several years but has been unable to obtain grant funding to purchase a van and hire staff.

Because water conservation is so vital, Burgess said, the district has decided to rent a van as needed and launch the program mainly with volunteers.

Initially, she said, the free sevice will be offered to single-family home owners. Eventually, she said, plans are to expand it to apartment and condo complexes, golf courses, homeowners associations, businesses and schools.

"This will be a learning process for us, and so we want to start small before we expand," Burgess said. "No pun intended, but we want to get our feet wet before we dive in."

Jim Konkoly can be reached at 863-386-5855 or e-mail jkonkoly@highlandstoday.com

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