TECHNOLOGY
Repairing the original system was one step toward the goal, which included smart irrigation upgrades and rethinking plant choices to select native options instead.
THE CREW HAD TO WORK AROUND RESORT GUESTS AND UPGRADE IRRIGATION SYSTEMS WITHOUT DISTURBING BUSINESS.
rotator nozzles replaced traditional spray nozzles. In ad- dition, spray heads with check valves took the place of standard spray heads, and drip irrigation replaced several spray areas. While there are 1,000 to 2,000 heads current- ly on the property, White says that number will contin- ue to fluctuate as more areas are swapped out with low- volume irrigation. Additionally, select turf areas and planting beds with high water use plants were removed and transitioned to native plantings. White notes that the management team liked these alterations, given that the resort sits on the ocean coast and fits into the native scene of the area. “Te weekly adjustment, along with the added effi- ciencies in the system, really made for an overall water savings,” says White. “Te landscaping ended up being a lot happier because it had the right amount of water instead of what would have typically been overwatered. As a result, things greened up nicely and plant health im- proved overall.” White adds scheduling as an additional noteworthy challenge to consider when working on a property with public access, especially a busy one. Crews had to be invis- ible around guests and work had to be completed within specific hours to avoid disturbing them. “It is a very active resort, and we needed to be there and get the work done without being seen,” he says. “We had to work different hours and maybe not as long of days as we like to get the work done.”
Breaking into water management
K&D Landscaping is a $15 million company with about 110 employees all dispatched out of one location. Te company has offered irrigation services for years and is a nearly $2.5 million operation staffed by eight employees, and it added water management services in 2020. White emphasizes the importance of establishing the service as a separate division that features a new logo that retained the company brand while differentiating water manage- ment through smart irrigation practices. “One of the biggest benefits is the savings to the con- tractor,” he says. “Whether you’re the maintenance con-
14 Irrigation & Lighting June 2023
tractor or the water manager for the property, you save a lot of money in time and fuel by not having to send your technicians out to the property to address the controller, whether it rained or something happened.” With the proper programming, smart controllers will adjust the watering schedule based on those events. Not only does that save the client a lot of water, but White says the biggest cost savings are in labor. “With the labor shortage, it’s a huge benefit,” he says.
“We’ve actually started offering free upgrades to some of our clients because it’s cheaper for us to put in a smart controller for free than to manage a conventional control- ler. Tat’s been really impressive for us to see.” White also sees the upgrades as a way to retain cus- tomers in a competitive market. Providing clients with the newest, latest and greatest technology demonstrates that you are looking out for their best interests. “It just gives them a good feeling that they’ve got the
right partner on board,” he adds. “Tey’re probably less apt to go out and shop your number, whether for main- tenance, irrigation or water management, when you’re providing them with ongoing proactive solutions, versus just waiting for a sprinkler to break so you can go get a billable hour.”
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