WaterSense Landscape Water Budget Tool
WaterSense released a revised version of the Landscape Water Budget
Tool on May 8, 2009. For up-to-date information please visit the
New Homes Technical Page.
The following information is available for those interested in
previous draft (released November 20, 2008) and public comments.
To aid in the development of the landscape water budget outlined
in the draft specification for water-efficient single family new
homes and to make a complex calculation more straightforward, EPA
has developed a tool to guide the builder, landscape professional,
or irrigation partner through the water budget calculations.
The tool utilizes the evapotranspiration and available precipitation
limits published in the May 22, 2008 Draft
Water-Efficient Single Family New Home Specification. There
will be an opportunity to comment on these values after the release
of a second Draft Water-Efficient Single Family New Home Specification.
EPA collected comments pertaining to the functionality of the tool
and specific guidance on the following items:
- Data source recommendations.
EPA used data tables based on the Irrigation Association's Landscape
Irrigation Scheduling and Water Management to populate Table 2
(Landscape Coefficients) and Table 3 (Irrigation Efficiencies)
in Part 2 of the calculator. EPA is aware of data supporting a
variety of values for these two variables (landscape coefficients
and irrigation efficiencies) and welcomes input on appropriate
data sources.
- Sources of local reference evapotranspiration (ETo).
EPA has recommended that users of the tool check with local Cooperative
Extension offices or weather organizations regarding local ETo
values. We welcome input if comprehensive lists or additional
sources of local ETo data exist.
The public comment period for the WaterSense landscape water budget
tool ended on December 19, 2008.
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