Outdoor watering audits are available
To help eliminate water waste by automated sprinkler systems, the Greenscapes Program is sponsoring a limited number of free and an unlimited number of reduced-rate audits by certified irrigation auditor Ted Moriarty of the West Roxbury-based Smart Watering Co.
Moriarty, who has been doing outdoor watering audits for 20 years, says the audit is ''a friendly process" in which he will survey a site -- ''Each property is a micro-ecology," he says -- and inspect its sprinkler system for such flaws as a misaligned sprinkler. He will tweak the malfunctioning part as needed, then distribute graduated cylinders over the lawn, turn on the sprinklers, and collect the water over a given period to measure how much is being laid down.
On the basis of this data and his evaluation of the landscape -- what's been planted, how much is lawn, and other factors such as shade, wind, exposed areas, and soil types -- Moriarty offers advice on an adjusted watering schedule.
More sophisticated system controllers can often help. For some residents, Moriarty recommends investing in moisture sensors or newly developed evaporation-transpira- tion sensors, to trigger the sprinklers only when they are really needed, instead of relying on the clock.
He says people want to live in a healthy, green environment. ''It's a biophilia thing," he said. ''People want their landscape to be rich; they want to be surrounded by nature in this built society we live in. Those landscapes do need water, but they don't need it all the time."
Irrigation to supplement natural rainfall is a labor-saving practice, if designed and programmed properly, he said. But it's easy to fall into the ''mind-set" of turning it on and letting it run all season long regardless of conditions. Systems set to deliver water for July and August will deliver the same amount of water in May and September, when that amount is not needed, Moriarty said.
Watering should be aimed at the 6-inch ''soil profile," or ''tank," that contains the roots of grass. ''You want to fill that tank and let the roots draw down," he said. But if rain is already filling that tank, homeowners should not overfill it by adding more water the plants cannot use. In addition to drawing unnecessarily on wells and groundwater, some of that wasted water will run off the driveway and add to the region's storm water problem.
The cost of an audit, depending on the size of the irrigation system, is about $150. The Greenscapes discount will take $20 off the price. Call Moriarty at 617-553-0386.
In addition to the irrigation audits, the Greenscapes Program is sponsoring a free workshop by Moriarty called ''Take Control of Your Irrigation System" on May 25, 7-9 p.m., at the South Shore Vocational Technical High School in Hanover. Registration is required.
Register at www.greenscapes.org or call the North and South Rivers Watershed Association at 781-659-8168.
A surge in demand
Water use in millions of gallons per day for towns in the Greenscapes Program, plus The Pinehills development in Plymouth. The Aquarion system serves the towns of Hingham and Hull.
| Community | Average use in summer | Average use in winter |
| Aquarion | 3.55 | 2.85 |
| Cohasset | 0.824 | 0.619 |
| Duxbury | 1.92 | 1.02 |
| Hanover | 1.63 | 1.11 |
| Kingston | 1.61 | 1.16 |
| Marshfield | 3.92 | 2.07 |
| Norwell | 1.35 | 0.81 |
| Pembroke | 1.8 | 1.23 |
| The Pinehills | 0.36 | 0.075 |
| Plymouth | 6.6 | 4 |
| Scituate | 2.24 | 1.31 |
| Weymouth | 4.42 | 4.12 |
The figures are from the Annual Statistical Report for 2005 submitted by public water systems to the DEP. The figures represent average water use in summer (May 1-Sept. 30) and in winter (Nov. 1-March 31).
