Innovative Water Management Certification Program Is Blooming

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The California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA) is pleased to introduce its Water Management Certification Program at the 30th Annual Landscape Industry Show, Feb. 26 at 10:00am during a presentation by Scott McGilvray, co-director of the program, at the Los Angeles Convention Center. With California facing critical drought conditions, CLCA’s Water Management Certification Program is intended to help today’s green industry professionals meet the need to reduce landscape water usage.

Last summer, Governor Schwarzenegger called for a 20% reduction in urban per capita water use by 2020.  Water conservation has become such a high priority that many cities, counties and utilities are also offering rebates for reduced water usage. CLCA’s Water Management Certification Program not only helps conserve water, but in many cases, especially for those with tiered water pricing, it saves money by targeting the actual water needs of the landscape and maintaining them via a water budget.

“The landscaping industry can be part of the solution to help our state through its drought crisis,” said Sharon McGuire, Executive Director of the CLCA.  “Through water management, sustainable landscaping, grasscycling, fire retardant plant choices and more, landscape contractors can help California adjust to our changing climate.  Proper planning and working together can help protect our land and create a win-win for everyone.  We are looking to work with cities, counties and water districts throughout the State to help provide them solutions to help manage these difficult conditions.”

Introduced in the summer of 2007, CLCA’s Water Management Certification Program is available to all green industry professionals and is an EPA WaterSense Partner.  So far, over 380 people are working towards the final completion of the performance part of the certification program - managing a water budget for a year.   This program was made possible by the strong support of Ewing Irrigation Products and the Toro Company who share a strong commitment to water conservation. 

“We believe the landscape industry is an important place to emphasize efficient water management and that CLCA’s program helps reduce water usage,” said Phil Burkart, Vice President, Irrigation Businesses, The Toro Company. “Water availability is an important issue that impacts all of us, and Toro will proudly do its part to help customers conserve water resources by supporting CLCA and providing irrigation technologies that eliminate excess use.”

The shortage of water is not only a big problem in California but also worldwide.  According to the United Nations, nearly two thirds of the world’s population is expected to have limited access to water by 2025.  “The current water crisis remains one of the most difficult challenges to date.  To alleviate these water woes, all industry players must work collaboratively to conserve water – and education is vital to making this happen,” said Douglas W. York, President of Ewing Irrigation.  “We believe that water conservation cannot be achieved without education programs like CLCA’s Water Management Certification Program.”

Attendance to the Water Management Certification Presentation and the Landscape Industry Show is open to the public and free with prior registration at https://register.rcsreg.com/regos-1.0/clca2009/ga/index2.html.  For more information about the Water Management Certification Program please visit www.clca.us/water