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<br />Ij ,,' <br /> <br />Recommendations are given to adjust pressure to conform to optimum standards . <br />by installing pressure regulators at the point of connection, valve box, or at each <br />sprinkler head. High pressure causes misting and evaporation, and can cause <br />heads to break. Low pressure can cause low distribution uniformity depending on <br />how far apart heads are spaced. <br /> <br />During the audit, an informational sheet is left with the client which outlines all of the <br />above findings. The auditor clearly goes over the findings, recommendations for <br />improvements and the reasoning behind these recommendations and the best <br />management practices that are suggested. Another data sheet is compiled solely for the <br />CRC and includes client contact information, landscape measurements, system pressures, <br />distribution uniformities, precipitation rates and root depths as well as any other <br />important findings. A homeowner evaluation form and envelope are also submitted to <br />the homeowner. The evaluation form offers them an opportunity to evaluate the audit, <br />the auditor, and the program, and enables the CRe to respond to comments and concerns <br />about the program. <br /> <br />New for 2006, the CRC working with a quality assurance (QA) professional will <br />implement a QA program consistent with professional standards to best manage the <br />volume of audits anticipated to be performed in the 2006 Slow the Flow program. <br /> <br />After the auditing season concludes, the data is compiled and collected and entered into a <br />master database (compiled of data for both 2004 and 2005) for analysis. Additional data <br />collection and input includes that of water records for the past four to five years of the <br />properties for which audits were performed. This is very time consuming and tedious <br />work, not only for the volume of data, but in the time it takes to access water records <br />from municipalities and to convert them into a format that is suitable for the program <br />needs. The purpose for analyzing water records is twofold: by comparing the amount of <br />outdoor water use to the irrigated landscape size (measured during the audit) an estimate <br />can be made of how much a landscape is over watered. Historical evapotranspiration <br />rates in inches are set as the benchmark to which to compare outdoor water application <br />amounts to. To calculate outdoor water use from monthly water records, a formula is <br />used which averages the amount of water used during the non-growing season (January- <br />April and October - November) and extrapolates that to be monthly indoor use during the <br />summer. The yearly indoor water use is subtracted from the total yearly use to reach total <br />outdoor water use for the year. Further calculations convert outdoor water use in gallons <br />to inches applied to the landscape. Another goal this year is to compare the amount of <br />water used prior and following an irrigation audit to quantify how much water the <br />program is helping to conserve annually. Results from Utah State University's irrigation <br />audit program, analyzing four years of data, showed on average a 15% reduction in <br />household water use following an audit. The CRC expects similar results. <br /> <br />The data that is collected is analyzed and the number and type of systems audited are <br />included in a final report to demonstrate the findings of the program. Published are the <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />10 <br />