A Water Management Model for Botanic Gardens and Arboreta
Date
1992-05
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
Many botanic gardens and arboreta across the united
states currently face significant operational obstacles due
to water related problems. However, all public
horticultural facilities in this country potentially face
water operational and water supply related problems in the
near future. These problems are caused by combined effects
of diminishing sources of water supply, increased demands
for water from all segments of society, increased
development costs, capital shortages, government fiscal
restraint, pollution, periodic weather induced shortages,
growing public concern for the environment, stress on system
equipment, and water quality degradation.
Due to these problems, the cost of providing and using
water in public gardens will increase, whether directly,
through user fee increases, or indirectly, due to increasing
costs of complying with changing government regulations.
Because of increasing costs the National Arboretum in
Washington, D.C. is investigating new sources for their
irrigation water supply. Currently, their supply comes from
District of Columbia's municipal water system, which
significantly, increased service rates to them. Filoli
Gardens, near San Francisco, California has recently
completed an extensive domestic and irrigation water system
expansion and upgrade. This undertaking was initiated to
deal with rising costs, operational inefficiency, and to
offset the effects of continuing regional water shortages.
Many gardens across the country are becoming aware of their
own water problems and are looking for ways to address them.
The development of this water management model is in
response to the obvious need to conserve and efficiently
utilize water. The model is organized into three levels:
water management planning process, interim water management
action programs, and system specific water management action
programs. The first level identifies steps and processes an
institution must take to develop, implement, and evaluate a
water conservation management program. Levels two and three
identify interim management measures, as well as short and
long term water system specific conservation measures. When
followed, the model will result in an achievable
conservation management plan. Additionally, the model
provides examples of proven efficient management techniques
and methods, as well as innovative new approaches to solving
many current water problems.
Description
Keywords
Water, Water management, Irrigation, Facilities management, Conservation