Irvine Co. dives into water conservation with Newport Center ‘frontlawn’ makeover
As part of an ongoing plan to make its properties more water-efficient, the Irvine Co. is modifying the irrigation system for the largest patch of greenery in the Newport Center — the so-called frontlawn at Newport Center Drive and Coast Highway.
The new sprinkler system will feature a variety of new, high-tech irrigation controls.
“What we are doing is making the system 35% more efficient,” said Clint Collins, the senior director of landscaping at the Newport Beach-based Irvine Co. “You do that by improving distribution uniformity, which is simply, as the sprinklers run, how uniform is that water hitting the ground.”
The sprinkler system will become more efficient through the addition of low-flow sprinklers, which shoot out water at a lower speed so that the ground can absorb the water so it doesn’t become runoff.
The Irvine Co. has also removed 16,000 square feet of turf to be replaced with shrubs.
“Generally speaking, turf uses 40% more water than shrubs,” said Collins. “So by taking out the turf, we are saving 20% on anything we do.”
Drip irrigation is another technology that the real estate development firm is using. Drip irrigation involves a network of tubes and emitters working together to slowly drip water, allowing the water to get to the root of the plant. This process eliminates runoff and over-spraying.
“Drip is 92% efficient,” Collins said.
In another attempt to quench runoff, the Irvine Co. is installing a crushed gravel border on the edges of the greenery to absorb all stray water.
The system is managed by a so-called smart controller. Smart controllers take information from weather satellites and adjust in accordance with weather patterns. They work hand in hand with master valves.
The Irvine Co. plans to install smart controllers at all of its properties. The firm owns Fashion Island, Pelican Hill, the Irvine Spectrum and multiple residential and commercial properties.
“We put in master valves or flow sensors,” said Collins. “That’s a device that connects to smart controllers, and it measures the flow. So it will know how much the average flow should be on any given day, and if it exceeds that flow, it tells the smart controller and the smart controller tells the master valve to shut off the system. So if a mainline breaks or a valve sticks on then it automatically shuts off. There is no waste of water.”
In addition, last month, the Irvine Co. installed a large number of water-efficient toilets and shower heads in some of the older apartment buildings it manages. That move is estimated to result in nearly 262.5 million gallons of water being saved annually.
“When James Irvine, the founder of the Irvine Co., started the company there was a drought, so it has always been in the company’s DNA,” said Bill Lobdell, vice president of communications. “We started out as a ranching company. You can tell by being the pioneers of the recycled water.”
The Newport Center lawn project is scheduled to be finished by the end of July.
