The state of water management

Water management and irrigation service businesses are gaining momentum across the country, especially in the western regions. Landscape professionals are increasing their focus on sustainable practices, driven by both environmental concerns and client demand. And at the heart of this sustainability movement is water management. This magazine regularly has a story on water management as this topic is making its way into more industry conversations.

At K&D, we strive to be a trailblazer in this sector, so in 2022 we launched a Water Management brand and held our first Water Summit to bring leaders in the industry together to talk specifically about water management. Last month was our third annual Water Summit and it was the largest one yet. The collection of industry leaders from across our nation reinforced the importance of water management as we navigate the early stages of very pivotal next steps for landscapers. Here is a quick recap from some of our speakers:

Kam Brian, CEO of Par3 Landscaping in Las Vegas, gave a great presentation on how they have saved almost a billion gallons of water (yes, a billion!) for their clients. He also shared the pictures of the water police in Las Vegas, which is a soon-to-be reality for many of us in the west.

Max Moreno, director of technology & water management at Everthrive Landscape in Southern California, shared insights on the AB1572 law that recently passed in California and what it means to provide water management as a service. This is a recurring income model that helps to save water while providing clients with clear measurables on how their site is performing from a water use standpoint.

DJ Seeger, president of Seeger Water in Austin, Texas, shared how engagement within our industry is key to ensure we have a seat at the table when new legislation is being developed. His team is involved at the local, state and federal level to help advocate for the future of water management.

Michael Johnson of H2orticulture Services spoke on California water challenges and how old legislation such as MWELO (Model Water Efficiency Landscape Ordinance) is creating opportunities for water management companies to create a revenue stream.

Our industry panel included representatives from Hunter Irrigation, SmartLink by Weathermatic and Hydropoint. We learned about new technologies available to irrigators, how the IoT (internet of things) is changing the way smart irrigation systems communicate, and that the speed of innovation is picking up with the availability of AI.

Landscapers are squarely in the crosshairs of our community and lawmakers when it comes to wasting water. For this reason we must, as an industry, stay one step ahead of this process. We must be the ones to govern ourselves and help our landscapes thrive with less water in areas where water is scarce.

If we fail on this critical issue, we may be left with laws that outright restrict using potable water to irrigate our landscapes, throwing an entire industry into chaos and destruction. Together we can turn the tide and create a positive movement within our communities, aimed toward sustainability and growth.

Raise the bar is a monthly column by Justin White, CEO of K&D Landscaping, written to help improve professionalism in the green industry. He can be reached at justin@kndlandscaping.com.