1881 — An Opportunity to Do the Right Thing

ValleyCrest has been recommending most of the requirements in AB 1881 to clients for years. I believe 1881 creates some excellent recommendations for water efficiency.  In the past we may have made these recommendations, but at times customers did not act on them because of the financial burden.  Now due to the ordinance, customers in California are required to take advantage of the technology and processes.  In the long run, I believe this will be good for our customers.

I believe we are dealing with a limited window of opportunity.  Last March I attended the Legislative Conference in Washington and met with the staff of Congressmen Feinstein, Boxer, McCain, Davis and Mack.  We heard the same message from each office.  They want the industry to lead the change, and they don’t want to have to enact new laws.

I listened to a presentation by Congressman Glenn Thompson.  He discussed water in the US and clearly stated water shortages in the US leave us vulnerable to terrorist attacks and are a threat to our homeland security.  This sentiment was echoed in a presentation by John Boehner’s staff.  As a result, I believe the window will close quickly if we don’t lead a change.

Following AB 1881 requires some changes.  Education of employees is important, especially in the area of smart controllers. Education on other water savings products is also important.  Most manufacturers will be happy to supply the training for no charge.

Our design team has probably felt the biggest effect.  AB 1881 has been adapted with modifications by most cities in California.  In California alone, there are 531 cities.  Staying on top of the ordinances in each of the cities is a challenge.  In LA County there are 35 different ordinances I wish the ordinances covered more ground.

I hear lots of complaints from people concerning the lack of enforcement of the ordinance.  People point out that if no one is going to enforce the laws, no one is going to follow them.  I believe as industry leaders we need to set positive examples and influence and motivate others as well. I do many things everyday, like drive the speed limit and not steal from my neighbors because I am a good citizen, not because I will be punished by a law enforcement agency. We need to encourage others to conserve water because it’s the right thing to do for the future of the planet.

I believe AB 1881 creates opportunity.  It also creates additional work, but not an unmanageable amount.  We all have some work ahead of us, and I’m looking forward to it.

Richard Restuccia

 

  1. Martha Golea Reply

    “…if no one is going to enforce the laws, no one is going to follow them” Seriously? Maybe individual homeowners will try to cut corners when retrofitting (if they’re not entitled to or enticed by local upgrade incentives), but AB 1881 is aimed mostly at new construction and commercial landscapers, who are not likely to risk hurting their business if they’re caught installing old-fashioned irrigation technology.
    This is a great opportunity for manufacturers, contractors and water districts to work together to provide incentives. We’ve seen great examples of the benefit of such synergy:
    http://valleycresttakeson.com/watermanagement/innovation/water-savings-worth-singing-about/
    http://valleycresttakeson.com/watermanagement/innovation/a-story-of-rebates-smarter-water-use-and-34-water-savings/

  2. Andrew Bolt Reply

    Richard….great information, I believe in everything that you said and strongly stand behind your values. Education is key and we need to promote from within. I think irrigation manufacturers need to be more open minded with their teachings and focus on good systems and not on their products. I think you know what I am referring to.
    BUT I ran into an instance today that makes me believe that some some organizations are jumping on the road to riches and want to make quick buck by what I see as misleading irrigation industry members. I refer to QWEL, This organization offers a Water Sense EPA Approved certification and recognizes those that it certifies as Irrigation Auditors and as they advertise meet 1881 approval. I strongly disagree with this. In my mind the IA offers the only Irrigation Auditor Certification, it is a world wide body and is committed to the entire irrigation industry. As someone who has been in the industry for 25 years, spent hundreds if not a couple of thousand dollars on training, certification and CEU credits I do not see an individual that is QWEL certified http://www.qwel.net (20 hours of class room and a test) as having the same knowledge and experience as someone who has earned a living installing, designing, selling and auditing irrigation systems. This is as bad as contractors auditing their own installations. We need to create a national standard that is recognized and stop allowing the Water Sense Partner program an opportunity to run out of control.
    Don’t get me wrong, I am all for educating the industry but let’s take the right path to success and stop going after every meaningless opportunity that crosses our path.

  3. Warren Gorowitz Reply

    Great assesment! While AB1881 isn’t perfect, I agree with you about the opportunities that are out there because of it.

  4. Daniel Muelrath Reply

    Richard…it is great to see the landscape industry embracing this ordinance and being parting of the solution. I commend you and your company for their proactive stance on water management.

    In response to Andrew Bolt’s comment regarding QWEL training, I wanted to put the truth out there and recommend that you take the class before you try to dismiss it. Being a co-founder of QWEL and current Board President I feel it is important that everyone knows the facts regarding the program. First, QWEL is a non-profit organization that is sponsored by water agencies and municipalities and was developed in conjunction with CLCA members, architects, college professors, etc. The program is over 20 hours of educational material (split between classroom / hands-on / field audits) and takes a whole systems approach to water management. QWEL trainings teach the fundamentals of water management ranging from irrigation systems, to soils and plants, to irrigation audits / water budgets / scheduling, trouble shooting etc.

    QWEL is not in competition with other certifying organizations, but has met the highly rigorous requirements that the EPA WaterSense program has set in order to be a certifying organization. No auditor program has experiential requirements beyond passing the class, submitting approved audits, and turning in CEU’s (all of which QWEL requires too).

    QWEL has been highly embraced by the landscape industry and continues to be a huge success. It originally started in the North Bay of San Francisco and has now spread to the East Bay, inland towards Sacramento, Utah is having a statewide launch later this year and by 2012 it should be offered throughout Southern California too. Private landscape companies also use the QWEL material to teach their staff and then the test is administered by an outside agency. The bottom line is that this QWEL is successful and will continue to expand.

    Back to Richard’s company, you are doing great things a look forward to what the future has in store!!!

  5. The Facts of Life: Water Shortages Reply

    […] about new water legislation), is a major move toward a sustainable water future. Richard says the water management industry should lead the charge, I say this should be the next Space Race, with every country competing to make the greatest […]

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