Making the Case for Irrigation Support

By Shauna Burnell

Anyone who maintains or relies on irrigation systems, will understand the many challenges faced when requesting more resources for those systems. Explaining where a system is failing and the urgency of upgrades does not always resonate when the site being irrigated appears (from a cursory glance) to be fine.

As inefficient or precarious as an irrigation system may be, so long as the landscape appears aesthetically acceptable, the inexperienced eye will assume that all is well. Irrigation technicians are adept at quick fixes; exposing the problem, making the repair and rectifying the landscape; because their job depends on their ability to do so. Quick responses, made possible through technology and site experience, can ensure that emergency situations are attended to and while this is necessary, the reality is that even as these repairs are made, the system becomes further compromised. Add to this dilemma, the fact that this significant and valuable asset is predominantly below surface, the old adage of "out of sight, out of mind" rings particularly true.

This situation can be somewhat alleviated, if general maintenance and repair practices include accurate and complete records of time spent on site at various green spaces. Making the argument to renovate or replace an irrigation system is made easier when we can produce records of the increasing costs in manpower and materials being spent on that system. Documenting emergency call outs to deal with mainline breaks for instance, or damage to landscape material or buildings that resulted from system failures can provide support for replacing or renovating a system. Industry feedback however, indicates that this is not, as yet, common practice, but perhaps that will change as we acknowledge the predicament many are facing. Fortunately there are strategies to gather at least some of this information and organizations will need to decide which approach works for them to help fill in the gaps. Putting together as much information as possible with respect to time spent on aspects of the golf course or various parks, will highlight trends and substantiate increased support requests.

Perspective is a key part of the support discussion and we do this by considering two things. The first is the hard value of the irrigation asset in question. This may be easier to visualize if your irrigation asset is a singular system and more complex if there are a number of irrigation systems to process. If you have multiple systems, begin to think of those as your irrigation network; not as singular systems; to appreciate the true value of the asset. From there, the next steps are knowing what equipment is installed and assessing the current and future value for that equipment. This can be done internally or through an experienced consultant. The second point for perspective is to consider the process for other significant assets owned / operated by your organization. Vehicles and maintenance equipment are two that come to mind. When a new piece of equipment is purchased, the life expectancy of that equipment is acknowledged and factored into the costs of doing business. If a mower is expected to be efficient and cost effective for 10 years or a particular number of operational hours, it is acknowledged that the funds to purchase a new mower must be available at the end of that life cycle. This is not the situation for most irrigation systems and is why conversations around support irrigation infrastructure are increasing.

One more critical piece of information will need to be considered before we can make the case for irrigation system support. As mentioned, the life cycle of most significant assets is considered when purchasing those assets and if this were true for irrigation systems, we would not find ourselves behind the eight ball when it comes to funds sequestered for aging irrigation systems. In fairness, entering irrigation systems into an asset management cycle cannot be done until an organization establishes what the effective life expectancy will be for irrigation systems. This is not an easy process; demonstrated by how often organizations are moving the generally accepted '25 to 30 year' system lifecycle to 35 years+ because the funds aren't in place to address systems installed in the 1980's. The reality is that while some systems well into their 30's may be exceeding performance expectations, most are not. The same could be said for vehicles and maintenance equipment where industry guidelines exist to assist in determining when they will reach their effective life expectancy. Organizations with irrigation systems inventory will need to select a system replacement age or age range. This can be done using past experience, by constructing an internal process, through a consultant or a combination of all three. Whichever approach is chosen, the bottom line is that knowing system life expectancy is key to addressing the current situation and being prepared for the future.

With the asset management information in place, making the case for irrigation system support becomes a more viable option. Knowing the hard value of your irrigation asset, along with a supported system 'expiry' date and maintenance /cost trends, creates a strong foundation for supporting your case. With this information, the next steps include knowing your audience and what additional information will be impactful for a particular group of people. The information will need to be put forward in a logical format; working to check the boxes that financial decision makers will look for.

Finally, as the irrigation industry in BC approaches 50 years, recognize that your organization is not alone it tackling this challenge. Aging irrigation infrastructure exists throughout the province and indications are that not enough organizations have sufficient renewal funds; for all the reasons outlined above. Where possible, share information and support other organizations moving through this process. Efficiencies can be gained and hopefully the process can be expedited. Irrigated green spaces throughout this province are incredibly valuable and we need to do all we can to find sustainable approaches to ensure they continue for generations to come.