Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1

Water scarcity and rising demand are concerns in Alberta as well as across Canada. Urban lawn watering is thesingle largest water demand on most municipal supplies thus necessitating the need to find innovative ways toconserve water on the home landscape. Some of the methods that can be used to conserve water includecreating an irrigation schedule relative to the types of plants in your landscape, not irrigating on a set schedulesince daily plant water use can vary greatly according to the weather, taking into account recent rainfallamounts before watering, and learning the water requirements of your landscape plants to avoid overwatering.Over-watering is wasteful and unhealthy for plants. These water conservation strategies can be met bydesigning high efficiency lawn sprinkler systems that have the capability to water lawns more efficiently.Underground lawn sprinklers have the potential to reduce water use if designed, installed and programmedproperly, although current systems require overlapping spray areas. 1318552 Alberta Limited has developed ahigh efficiency sprinkler system and associated software that would allow a constantly variable flow of water.By allowing a constantly variable flow throughout its rotation, the developed sprinkler system will be capableof delivering uniform coverage to any shaped lawn area. Thus, the system would require minimal sprinklerheads and corresponding piping system substantially reducing overwatering and thus leading to savings.With the support of NSERC the scientists and specialists from Olds College will test the efficiency of thedeveloped high efficiency sprinkler system and associated software. Their evaluation will highlightimprovements necessary and/or identify any weaknesses in the technology. 1318552 Alberta Limited will thenbe able to provide this technology to urban residents, municipalities and other clients that are need ofconserving the scarce water resources used for lawn irrigation.