Irrigation Programs
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| Sprinkler head pressure testing can lead to improved efficiency. |
Commercial Irrigation Water Surveys
Commercial Irrigation Rebates
How to
Participate
Success
Stories
EBMUD offers the following services and programs for
large-landscape irrigation customers in its service area.
Commercial Irrigation Audit Surveys
EBMUD staff will show you and your maintenance staff how to use existing irrigation equipment more efficiently and how to save water and money by upgrading the existing sprinkler equipment on site. The irrigation survey includes:
- Evaluation of current and past water use;
- Evaluation report on existing system submitted to customer, with recommendations for lowering water consumption;
- Sprinklers uniformity tests;
- On-site training in the principles of efficient irrigation: precipitation rates; evapotranspiration (ET), infiltration rates, root zone depth, and crop coefficients;
- Assistance in developing an irrigation schedule based on ET rates;
- Maintain irrigation efficiency over time with site maps, controller maps, and current schedules;
- Evaluation for eligibility in the Irrigation Upgrade Program.
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| Sprinkler uniformity testing reveals how evenly water is applied. |
Commercial Irrigation Rebates
The Irrigation Upgrade Program* is designed to help large-landscape irrigators improve the efficiency of existing irrigation systems. Customers who participate in an irrigation survey may qualify for rebates of 50 percent of the material costs of installing water-efficient equipment. The goal is to optimize equipment performance by improving irrigation uniformity and lowering water delivery rates, resulting in shorter watering times, less waste, and lower water bills. Rebates do not cover labor costs.
Receive a 50% credit for:
· Matched precipitation rate sprinkler heads equipped with pressure reducing devices or check valves: standardizing all make and models within systems.
· Irrigation sub-meters: To track irrigation water consumption on mixed use meters. Rebates for customers must be used in conjunction with other irrigation upgrades for existing irrigation system.
· Drip irrigation equipment: converting existing spray equipment to drip.
· Moisture sensors: tensiometers, electrical resistance meters.
· Rain shut-off devices: prevent irrigation during rainfall.
Matched precipitation rate rotating nozzles: improve sprinkler uniformity, slow application rate ideal for hard clay soils.
· Contact the Water Conservation office at 1-866-403-2683 to schedule a free commercial irrigation survey.
· Submit a proposal form for EBMUD staff to review.
· For all rebates, EBMUD will:
* Credit half the total rebate at time of the equipment inspection.
* Credit the remaining half of the rebate when a water budget for the account (s) is achieved over a 1-year period from the equipment inspection date. (Water budget formula: Landscape area x Annual Eto).
· $500 minimum participation requirement.
· If the project is approved, EBMUD will send a project agreement to the owner or management.
· 90 days to complete the equipment upgrade.
· When the upgrade is complete, EBMUD will inspect the upgraded areas, process credit to the account, and will review the importance of proper irrigation programming and sprinkler maintenance to ensure water savings.
*Program applies to potable water customers only
The
documents below are PDF files which can be viewed and printed through
Adobe Acrobat Reader, a free software. 
EBMUD recognizes businesses
for their water conservation efforts and participation in our rebate
program. A sample of program participants who incorporated education,
rebates, technology, and/or training to assist in reduction in water usage
and in most cases resulting in lowering their water bill.
Blackhawk HOA
D & H Landscaping
Pacheco Brothers Gardening
Community of Harbor Bay Isle
Del Conte's Landscaping, Inc.
Town of Danville
Islandia HOA
Serpico Landscaping