Irrigation Initiatives
Certified Irrigation Professional Courses
To promote water conservation and the design and installation of efficient irrigation systems, the Irrigation Industry Association of BC's (IIABC) offers several training courses.
The Regional District of Nanaimo has partnered with IIABC to offer a limited number of $100 subsidies for courses. The following courses for Irrigation Installers are eligible:
- Certified Irrigation Technician - Level 1
- Certified Irrigation Technician - Level 2 Landscape
To qualify, you must operate within the RDN.
To apply for the subsidy, email Vanessa [at] irrigationbc.com (vanessa[at]irrigationbc[dot]com) and you will receive your discount code for a course offering.
Residential Irrigation System Check-ups
Since 2010, hundreds of residential irrigation check-ups have been performed by Team WaterSmart staff. The program has effectively caught leaks, lowered excessive watering times & advised on water-saving techniques. Team Watersmart sends an invitation to the top 100 water users in each municipality each spring to offer a limited number of free irrigation system check-ups.
Please call 250-390-6560 or email watersmart [at] rdn.bc.ca if you require more information.
BC Landscape Water Calculator
The RDN has partnered with the BC Partnership for Water Sustainability to include regionally-specific GIS layers to enhance the BC Landscape Water Calculator.
Thinking of installing a new irrigation system or renovating your current one? Plan it out with the BC Landscape Water Calculator.
Using climate data and the size of your irrigated land, the BC Landscape Water Calculator determines your annual water budget, which is the maximum amount of water your irrigation system should be using in a year. Then, once you input the details of your irrigation system, it will calculate whether your system’s water demand is higher or lower than your annual water budget.
Using this calculator, you can experiment with different water saving techniques, such as using native plants or more efficient heads, to plan out an irrigation system that is efficient and sustainable.
How to Use:
- Go to the BC Landscape Water Calculator
- Input your address into the search bar in the top right corner.
- Fill out the area tab with the total area on your property that is: irrigated, naturalized, pervious, or a building.
Tip: Use Google Earth’s measuring tool to easily get measurements of these areas on your property. - Fill out the hydrozone tab, describing the type of plant, sun exposure, area, soil type, and irrigation head for each zone of your irrigation system. Experiment with drip irrigation, native plants, and quality topsoil to see how much water you can save.
- Once completed, click “Save Report” and see if the water demand of your irrigation system is below the annual water budget.
Download the full BC Landscape Water Calculator User Guide.
Free Workshop for Residents: Efficient Irrigation
We offer workshops to encourage residents to inspect their irrigation systems.
Check out our upcoming workshops and if you'd like to check your own irrigation system, see our step-by-step guide to find out how. If you are a member of a community group and would like to request a workshop presentation, reach out to watersmart [at] rdn.bc.ca (watersmart[at]rdn[dot]bc[dot]ca) to inquire on availability and scheduling.
Efficient Irrigation Round-Table: Municipal and School District Crews
Members of municipal and school district grounds crews in the RDN have gathered to discuss efficient irrigation practices in their line of work. This was an opportunity to share ideas, suggestions and experiences while working together towards the common goal of efficiency.
The round-table discussion lead to a compilation of best practices which can be referenced here: Efficient Irrigation Roundtable Discussion Summary.