Bill Text: HI SCR65 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Landscape Industry of Hawaii, Water Conservation
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-03-13 - Referred to EGH/PSM. [SCR65 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2014-SCR65-Introduced.html
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THE SENATE |
S.C.R. NO. |
65 |
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TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
ENCOURAGING THE UTILIZATION OF BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN LANDSCAPE IRRIGATION TO CONSERVE OUTDOOR WATER USE AND THE ADOPTION OF THE LANDSCAPE INDUSTRY COUNCIL OF HAWAII'S IRRIGATION WATER CONSERVATION BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES.
WHEREAS, Hawaii's landscape industry is one of the fastest growing and largest segments of the green industry, generating an economic value of over $520,000,000 annually and full-time employment of over eleven thousand landscape professionals; and
WHEREAS, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, landscape irrigation accounts for fifty percent or more of the average household's outdoor water usage; and
WHEREAS, poorly maintained or installed irrigation can waste up to fifty percent of water due to inefficient irrigation practices, poor components, or evaporation and runoff; and
WHEREAS, maintaining and installing efficient irrigation systems are some 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, the Landscape Industry Council of Hawaii (LICH) was established in 1986 as a statewide alliance representing the following Hawaii landscape trade associations: the Aloha Arborist Association, Hawaii Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, Hawaii Association of Nurserymen, Hawaii Island Landscape Association, Hawaii Landscape and Irrigation Contractors Association, Inc., Hawaii Society of Urban Forestry Professionals, Kauai Landscape Industry Council, Maui Association of Landscape Professionals, Professional Grounds Management Society, Big Island Association of Nurserymen, Inc., Hawaii Professional Gardeners Association, and Hawaii Turfgrass Association; and
WHEREAS, LICH supports and encourages water conservation, research and development, and the utilization of best management practices to conserve outdoor water usage within the landscape; and
WHEREAS, best management practices for new installations or major renovations include the use of:
(1) New installations that require a coverage test prior to acceptance; and irrigation system designs, plans, and specifications that remain on site and contain water conservation language;
(2) Systems designed with sprinklers spaced head-to-head coverage or better, and with a precipitation rate not exceeding soil infiltration rate;
(3) Systems designed to irrigate similar site, slope, sun exposure, soil conditions, and plant materials with similar water use on the same circuit;
(4) Climate-based automatic irrigation controllers utilizing either evapotranspiration and weather sensors, or soil moisture sensors and drip irrigation for individual specimen plants;
(5) Flow sensors with a malfunction valve shutoff system capability in an irrigation controller and water submeters that measure outdoor water usage on larger sites;
(6) Water conserving irrigation components and check valves such as rotary nozzles, pressure regulated spray heads, rain switches, and high efficiency nozzles;
(7) Storm water design methods, including infiltration beds, swales, and basins that allow water to collect and soak into the ground on site, utilizing low impact development principles;
(8) Non-potable water sources when available; and
(9) Qualified irrigation designers such as an Irrigation Association-Certified Irrigation Designer, Irrigation Association-Certified Irrigation Contractor, and a maintenance contractor with water conservation expertise; and
WHEREAS, the best management practices for maintenance include the use of:
(1) Seasonal timing adjustments to irrigation controller systems;
(2) Aeration of lawns when compaction increases, and short run-time cycle irrigation in areas where runoff and ponding occur;
(3) Periodic practical water audits to review the system components and verify that the components meet the original design criteria for the efficient operation and uniform distribution of water;
(4) Irrigation controllers programmed for long run times to water as deeply, evenly, and infrequently as possible to encourage deep rooting and increased drought resistance;
(5) Mulch, organic matter in soils, and drought-tolerant plants or plants that are naturally occurring at the site and surroundings;
(6) The practice of allowing grass to grow taller to conserve water; and
(7) Schedule systems to run water at night; and
WHEREAS, the resource and financial savings resulting from the effective use of these best management practices would in turn allow the public and private sectors to plant more "main street" trees within our communities to achieve increased livability and sustainability; and
WHEREAS, LICH further supports and encourages the preservation of existing native trees and non-invasive vegetation that do not require irrigation; and
WHEREAS, LICH further supports and encourages attendance at water conservation seminars with continuing education units by entities such as the Hawaii Section of the American Water Works Association, LICH, and the Irrigation Association; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2014, the House of Representatives concurring, that this body encourages the utilization of best management practices in landscape irrigation to conserve outdoor water usage; 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's 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 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 landscape water usage; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Landscape Industry Council of Hawaii which in turn is requested to transmit a copy of this Concurrent Resolution to all state and county agencies and other large water users in this State.
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OFFERED BY: |
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Landscape Industry of Hawaii, Water Conservation
