The lucky residents at 124 Briggs Ranch Drive were the winners of the 2007 Regional Water Authority’s “Ultimate Water Smart Garden Makeover Contest." The project was part of the RWA’s public outreach and education efforts. During the irrigation season, as much as 60% to 70% of water delivered to residential customers is used in the landscape and a common misconception is that drought resistant landscapes are nothing more than cactus and rock. The winner’s new landscape is a great example of how attractive “water smart” landscaping can be. The project replaced a traditional “thirsty” landscape consisting of mostly turf and non-native shrubs with a mix of native and Mediterranean plants watered by a low-volume drip irrigation system. Other important features included a “Smart” irrigation controller that automatically adjusts the watering schedule according to current weather conditions, and walkways made of permeable pavers that reduce runoff by allowing water to soak through to the soil beneath. A water meter was installed on the irrigation system so that landscape water use could be tracked separately from domestic. Click here to see a comparison of Water Wise Average Water Use to Traditional Average Water Use.
The project was made possible by the generous contributions of labor and materials by dozens of local suppliers and contractors.
