Table of Contents

I. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ 4
II. SYNOPSIS OF AREA-PROGRAMMABLE SPRINKLER SYSTEM (APSS)
TECHNOLOGY ................................................................................................................. 5
III. WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY INDEPENDENT EVALUATION .................... 6
Michael Ebinger PhD, Director ................................................................................... 7
IV. THE REPORT .................................................................................................................... 7
Valuation Information, Larone Solutions, LLC .................................................... 7
Industry Overview: Sprinkling Systems ................................................................ 7
LEO Anything Research Survey and Financial Information........................... 8
Patent Analysis ........................................................................................................ 10
Range of Values to Consider for Sale of Nelson and Nelson Patent ............. 13
Pros and Cons for Area-Programmable Sprinkler ............................................ 14
References ................................................................................................................. 14
URLs for Companies ............................................................................................... 15
V. RESPONSE TO PROS AND CONS OF THE WSU REPORT ......................................... 16
VI. WATER FACTS ............................................................................................................... 16
Climate Change .......................................................................................................... 17
Agricultural Demand for Water ................................................................................ 17
Commercial Demand for Water ................................................................................ 17
Residential Demand for Water .................................................................................. 18
VII. APPLICATIONS AND BENEFITS OF THE AREA-PROGRAMMABLE
SPRINKLER SYSTEM (APSS) ..................................................................................... 19
Agriculture .................................................................................................................. 19
Commercial/Golf Course ........................................................................................... 20
Residential .................................................................................................................. 20
VIII. WATER INVESTMENT AND OUR FUTURE ............................................................ 21
IX. SPECIFIC GLOBAL AREAS OF WATER USAGE ......................................................... 22
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India ........................................................................................................................... 23
The Gulf Countries: .................................................................................................... 24
Canada ....................................................................................................................... 25
China .......................................................................................................................... 26
Australia ..................................................................................................................... 27
United States .............................................................................................................. 27
X. FINAL STATEMENT/THE HAMMER ............................................................................ 29
XI. PRICE AND CONTACT INFORMATION .................................................................... 30
XII. THE PATENT ................................................................................................................. 32
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I. INTRODUCTION
There is an old saying that ideas are a dime a dozen. Not all ideas fit into that category.
Great ideas change mankinds history and mans thinking. The internet achieved that
distinction. The inception and advancement of the internet resulted in computers becoming
commonplace in the daily lives of individuals. This great idea, once put into practice,
connected people to each other across the world to a degree that was never imagined. It
changed business, thinking and communication on a worldwide scale.
Ideas that have global worth often become disseminated; many times without any
credit, income, or thanks to their originators. One such great idea was the jet engine, invented
by Sir Frank Whittle. In the beginning the idea of jet propulsion with a turbine engine was
patented. Its worth was protected by the patent; however, the patent went fallow from unpaid
fees. The English government, who had exposure to it, failed to see its relevance due to their
decision to use propeller driven aircraft. As a consequence, the aeronautical industry
developed the jet engine without a legal hold in the marketplace. The jet engine technology
became free to anyone. Whoever had the capacity to build one could make it without paying
for the knowledge. Had the patent remained in effect the holder would have profited
immensely for years and still given the public and the military a new era of flight.
The Area Programmable Sprinkler System constitutes that rare, globally great idea.
Fully protected by a United States Utility Patent, with additional foreign filings, and with a
Continuing in Progress application, this idea awaits its launch. The patent itself has a lifespan
of 18 years in the world market. The patent is for an adjustable, area programmable system
that delivers water by pressure flow to sprinkler(s) that conform(s) watering to the geometry
of the location, which completely changes the methods and aspects currently used in the
industry. The worldwide market is crying for novel solutions to devastating water shortage,
usage and waste.
A great idea, coupled with a strong patent, is called a hammer in the world
marketplace. Such a hammer creates ongoing and lasting benefits for the owner. It
establishes an industry based upon the legality and efficacy of itself. The patent makes a
statement in history and defines new boundaries. It employs and sustains people in the wake
of its growth. The patent provides recognition for the person or persons who employ it. The
yearly income grows on an exponential basis, creating profit for everyone connected to its
expansion. The patents official position becomes extremely profitable for the owner, as it
denotes the legal control of markets. The innovations contained in this patent constitute an
unusual opportunity to own a global market that is demanding upgrades to current practices.
The Earth has limited fresh water. Here exists the chance to mend water irrigation problems
on a world scale. The investment will be returned by the economic input generated from the
billions of people impacted by the Area Programmable Sprinkler System.
Franklin Duncan 2012
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II. SYNOPSIS OF AREA-PROGRAMMABLE
SPRINKLER SYSTEM ("APSS") TECHNOLOGY
The "Area Programmable Sprinkler System" (or "APSS") is a sprinkler that can be
programmed to provide irrigation to a specific area, without watering outside of the area, or
missing zones within the area. The APSS can be programmed by a user standing outside of the
irrigation zone using an electronic controller. This process would allow remote access also,
i.e. a cell phone or other device in-sync with the programming. The APSS provides water
only where it is needed - no overspray, and no under spray. Further, the APSS provides even
watering over the intended area. One APSS sprinkler can replace two or more current
sprinklers, thus reducing cost and also avoiding water wastage by overlapping sprays. The
APSS is perhaps the most significant innovation to-date in water-saving technology for spray
irrigation.
The APSS works by placing an APSS sprinkler head in an area to be irrigated. As the
APSS sprinkler moves through a 360 degree arc, providing a spray of water, the user adjusts
the flow of water (using a controller) in order to achieve the desired spray at any given point
(i.e., to avoid overspray and/or under spray). During this process, the flow settings are
recorded in a computer memory. Once the user is satisfied that the spray pattern has been
successfully recorded, the user can thereafter allow the APSS to operate in automatic mode,
providing the recorded spray pattern to the desired area. The APSS can be implemented as
single stand-alone sprinklers, or as part of an in-ground sprinkler system. Other
implementations can also be used. For a video illustration of the APSS:
http://www.laronesolutions.com/products/aps-sprinkler-technology
The APSS requires a water supply and a low voltage power supply (i.e. 12 volt dc or
less). The APSS provides greater control in contour discrimination. The system is adjustable
to one degree increments or even less if desired. No-Water zones can be completely by-
passed. The APSS sensor valve has a pressure device that maintains consistency of flow. This
ensures even watering in terms of volume of water per square foot of irrigated area. One
APSS sprinkler can be programmed to cover a number of areas. It does not require re-
programming each time it is moved to another location. Landscape changes can be quickly
and easily recalibrated.
Advantages
No more wasted water resulting from overspray.
No more dry areas resulting from under spray.
No more wet areas resulting from overlapping spray.
No more property damage (e.g. fences, siding, etc.) resulting from overspray.
One in-ground APS can replace two or more prior art sprinklers, thus reducing cost
and installation time for an in-ground sprinkler system.
Simple to install and program.
Can be used for crops as well as landscape irrigation.
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Water conservation is one of the direst issues facing the world today. The APSS
technology is thus the right solution at the right time to help reduce the wastage of this very
precious commodity.
Larone Solutions is a business and industry member of the Alliance for Water
Efficiency. The AWE is a non-profit organization dedicated to the efficient and sustainable
use of water. The APSS has been published in the AWEs Second Annual Business Guide.
This guide showcases the latest thinking and leading technologies in water efficiency.
http://www.allianceforwaterefficiency.org
The APSS was invented by Rod and Loni Nelson, and is currently protected by U.S. Patent
No. 8,302,882. International patent applications have also been applied for, as well as
additional U.S. patents.




III. WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY INDEPENDENT EVALUATION

Washington State University (WSU) Center for Innovation and Value Creation is a
federally financed program whose designated task is to evaluate new business Ideas. Thru
their director, Michael Ebinger, WSU has evaluated the Nelson and Nelson (2012) patent US
8,302,882.
From the WSU College of Business website: The College of Business at Washington State
University is dedicated to developing globally competitive graduates who can deliver
innovative ideas and understand the impact of business on society and the environment. The
college first offered a business administration degree in 1940 and today grants almost 20
percent of WSUs undergraduate degrees, making it one of the most popular disciplines on
campus. The CBs expert faculty delivers innovative content, supported by the latest
technology and modern facilities. Students obtain a broad business education with solid
grounding in core disciplines, enhanced by lecture series and forums featuring global business
leaders.

1. The College of Business is among 2 percent of business schools worldwide to achieve
AACSB accreditation at the bachelor, master, and doctoral levels (Association to
Advance Collegiate Schools of Business).
2. The entrepreneurship program is ranked 24th in the nation (Princeton Review 2009
Best Entrepreneurial Colleges Top 25).

The College of Business at Washington State University is a world-class business school
with a global focus. One of the primary goals of the CB is to prepare students to become
purposeful, innovative, versatile leaders with the skills and knowledge to succeed in the global
marketplace.
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From the Washington State University Center for Innovation and Value Creation comes
the following data: For more than a decade, the Washington State Innovation Assessment
Center (IAC) has provided evaluation services to individuals and small businesses throughout
the world. An IAC early stage market assessment will help you decide if you should make
additional investments in your idea, make modifications in your product to improve
marketability or invest in a different idea.
Michael Ebinger PhD, Director
Michael Ebinger PhD completed his MBA in December 2010 through the Executive
MBA program in Spokane. He received his BA in Anthropology (1980) and MS in Soils and
Water Engineering (1984) from the University of Arizona and his Ph. D. in Soil Chemistry
and Mineralogy from Purdue University in 1988. He worked as a staff scientist and manager
at Los Alamos National Laboratory for 22 years. Dr. Ebinger brings technical research and
development experience and management of scientific programs to the IAC. At Los Alamos,
he successfully developed large research teams, holds a patent on a measurement method, and
has completed several business plans for various interests.
Dr. Ebinger can be contacted by phone at 509-335-7876, by email at
ebingerm@wsu.edu, and through the IAC at CB.iac@wsu.edu.
IV. THE REPORT
Valuation Information, Larone Solutions, LLC
Updated Jan 13, 2013
Michael Ebinger
WSU University Center for Innovation and Value Creation
Industry Overview: Sprinkling Systems
Innovations in lawn irrigation, golf course irrigation, and agricultural irrigation are
vigorous in the various sectors (Parsons, 2006; Drury, 2011; Rain Bird, 2011; Harris,
2012; Jacobs, 2012; Laws and Brandon, 2012). All of the leading companies, whether
privately held or not, have introduced new technology within the last two to three years
to make irrigation of all sorts more efficient. Efficiency gains center around the
following: 1) using less water to effectively irrigate lawns, landscapes, golf courses, and
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agricultural areas; 2) timing water applications to minimize water loss to evaporation and
plant transpiration (a term called evapotranspiration); 3) avoiding overspray onto areas
where water application is not desired (e.g., sidewalks bordering lawns); and 4)
avoiding runoff of fertilizer, pesticides, and insecticides because of excess water
application.
The main drivers of these innovations are the following:
Environmental. Runoff of excess water and chemicals eventually affects
freshwater and marine ecosystems; in eastern Washington there is now
legislation to limit or prohibit runoff of phosphate from lawns. Innovations
that work to preserve the environment are gaining popularity in the home
lawn and garden market, commercial golf course market, and agricultural
arenas.
Water Conservation. Despite popular controversy about climate change, water
conservation is a direct result of considering human impact on resources.
Conserving water resources while preserving lawn, garden, landscape and
agricultural practices is an important innovation measure for most companies.
Water Use Efficiency. Slim profit margins on most agricultural products require
that all costs be trimmed as much as possible. Efficient water use means applying
the least amount of water for maximum yields, and companies are working
diligently to satisfy this need.

Survey of the literature suggests that only water pressure and timing of application
are considered when meeting these needs. Programmed sprinklers that accommodate
odd shapes of lawns, gardens, golf courses, and probably agricultural areas (e.g., the
unwatered corners on central pivot irrigation systems) would be a unique solution to
the three areas above and a valuable innovation in the industry. The US patent for the
Area Programmable Sprinkler (Nelson and Nelson, 2012; US Patent 8,302,882) is a
significant innovation.


LEO Anything Research Survey and Financial Information
For Toro and Valmont Industries

Average revenue per company was reported in the LEO Anything Survey as
$18.9M, but this estimate might be low (even though it includes valves, in-line
piping, lawn sprinklers, etc.). Anything Research found 4% of overall revenues
attributable to lawn sprinklers.
Toro Tractor Companys Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) 10-K
financial information backs the 4% figure but also shows $1.9B revenue, of which 8% was
in Precision Irrigation, and 6% was in Micro Irrigation. Based on the Precision
Irrigation and Micro Irrigation percentages, Toros sprinkler revenue could be up to
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$152M + $ $114M or $268M. Based on the 4% of the Anything Research report, Toros
revenue from sprinklers could be about $76M.
Valmont SEC 10-K information showed net sales (revenue cost of sales) as
$2.67B in 2011, of which 25% is irrigation ($665.9M). If 4 to 6% of total revenue
attributable to sprinklers from Anything Research holds, then Valmonts sprinkler net
sales would be about $106.8M to $160.2M.
Table 1 summarizes the results of the Anything Research survey, Toros Revenues
and estimates for sprinkler revenues, and the same for Valmont Industries.

Table 1. Summary of financial values for Anything Research Surveys, Toro, and Valmont Industries (Data are from
2012 filings for fiscal year 2011).
Anything Rsch Toro Valmont Ind.*
Revenue $18.9M $1,900M $2,661M
4% of Revenue (attrib. to
sprinklers)
$0.74M $76M $106M
6% of Revenue (attrib. to
sprinklers)
$1.1M $114M $160M
Actual Sprinkler Revenue
Reported

NA

$342M

$665M
Assumed R&D 5% to
10% of Actual Revenue

5% Value $17.1M $33.3M
10% Value $34M $67M

* Valmont reports net sales instead of revenue. Net sales would be Revenue Cost of Sales
or Revenue would be Net sales + Gross Profit; they report net sales and gross profit.
Additional Companies were considered as well, but each was a privately held
corporation and was not required to publish financial information. These companies
were (See URL list at end of report for contact information):

Hunter Industries
Nelson Sprinklers
Orbit Systems
Signature
Irrigation
Weathermatic





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Patent Analysis

A proprietary analysis tool was used to evaluate the uniqueness and breadth of
the patents that claim programmable water application as their technology. Searches
were conducted for programmable sprinkler systems in US Patent and Trademark
Office (USPTO) Class 239 and all subclasses named in the Nelson and Nelson patent.
Those relevant patents (granted and applications or provisional patents) were further
analyzed using the proprietary tools.
In USPTO Class 239 (Fluid Sprinkling, Spraying, and Diffusing), there are only 13
relevant grants or provisional patents, of which two have been granted and 11 were still
pending or abandoned. These two, Nelson and Nelsons (8,302,882) and another, US
patent 7,168,632 (Kates, 2005; A Multi-Zone Sprinkler System with Moisture Sensors
and Configurable Spray Pattern), are shown in the analysis figures.
The proprietary patent analysis tool (Patent DNA) uses the language in the
independent claims of a granted or published patent to determine an estimate of the
breadth or narrowness of a patent compared to the other patents that comprise a class.
For example, the Patent DNA estimated for Nelson and Nelson (2012) shows a relatively
broad claim and one relatively narrow claim compared to the entire breadth of all the
patents in Class 239 (Figure 1).
The Patent DNA tool uses the frequency of words in claims and the uniqueness
of those words to determine a claims breadth or narrowness. A broad claim attempts
to establish a wide area of protection; a narrow claim seeks to establish a more specific
area. A patents strength, or the resistance to infringement or its defensibility, is a
combination of the narrowness and the broadness of its claims. An example of
broadness and narrowness is the following: A ball point pen is a broad claim, A ball
point pen with a screw-on cap is less so and more specific, A ball point pen with
screw-on cap and pocket clip is even more specific. In this example, the latter would
probably be the strongest claim especially if it accompanied another independent claim
regarding the ball-point pen.
Figure 1 shows the two independent claims of the Nelson and Nelson patent
mapped against the entire language in independent claims of USPTO Class 239. This
map shows that Claim 1 is rather broad whereas Claim 17 (the claim for the software
that controls the sprinkler) is narrow. The two together define a device that stands out
from the whole of Class 239based on the numerical analysis of Class 239, the scope of
the patent is about 68% narrower than the Class. Patent 7,168,632 (Kates, 2005), on the
other hand, has only a single independent claim (Claim #1) that maps relatively narrow
compared to the Class (see Figure 2). This patent scope (22% or 78% of claims are
broader) is also too narrow to define much space within the class.



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Figure 1. Patent DNA map for Nelson and Nelson (2012) patent, US 8,302,882.
Figure 2. Patent DNA map for US patent 7,168,632 (Kates, 2006).
The patent scope analysis of the Nelson and Nelson patent provides additional
support to value the patent should it be sold to a third party. The Nelson patent
describes a unique invention because of its approachusing software to program a
sprinkler to deliver a specific water application. Other devices use pressure variation or
water rate application assuming soil water parameters and/or timing of water
application.
Another graphic but qualitative comparison of patents is to use the language in
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patent independent claims as seeds for the Wordle program (see Wordle URL). This
program takes text that is entered, strips out common words such as a, and, and
the then counts the remaining words. The frequency of each word in the input text is
then displayed as the word itself scaled by importance. For example, Figure 3 is a Wordle
generated using Claim 1 and Claim 17 text from the Nelson and Nelson patent. The
words sprinkler, head, control, and valve are the most frequent words, thus the
largest in the figure. The Kates patent (US patent 7,168,632) has only one independent
claim, Claim #1. The text of Claim 1 was used to generate the Wordle that is Figure 4.
Sprinkler and head are again important words, but the remaining text is more
narrowly descriptive of the device in that patent. Comparison of Figures 3 and 4 shows
the qualitative difference in the language used in the patents, and the more compact
shape of Figure 4 also indicates a narrower claim.

Figure 3. Wordle generated from the ten most frequent words of Claim 1 and Claim 17, Nelson and Nelson patent (US
8,302,882). These claims were the independent claims in the patent.



Figure 4. Wordle generated from the ten most frequent words in Claim 1, Kates patent (US 7,168,623). This claim
was the only independent claim in the patent.


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Range of Values to Consider for Sale of Nelson and Nelson Patent

Innovation has been tied directly to the research and development (R&D)
spending of companies that rely on technology for growth. Unfortunately, neither Toro
nor Valmont Industries reported R&D spending in their SEC filings. Thus, the assumed
R&D spending was 5% to 10% of revenue that could be attributable to sprinkler systems.
The range of 5% to 10% was derived from the SEC filings of other mechanical and
software technology firms that reported R&D spending.
The Toro Corporation reported revenue was about $342M for sprinklers, which
led to an R&D estimate of $17.1 to $34M. Valmont Industries reported about $665M in
sprinkler or micro- irrigation revenue, so the R&D estimate was $33M to $67M. A
qualitative rule of thumb includes evaluation of new technologies at about 50% of the
R&D budget or actual R&D spending, especially in an industry that is driven strongly
by environmental concerns such as this industry is. Applying this 50% estimation rule
to the estimated ranges of R&D spending budgets, the Nelson and Nelson patent could
be sold for $9M to $33M to Toro or Valmont Industries, respectively. Clearly this
assumption includes that one or both would be interested in buying it and does not
address the potential of other buyers.
Marketing of the patent could begin at $20M to $25M based on the Patent DNA
and the information from the industry on revenues. Future revenue attributable to the
programmable sprinkler would need to be 1% to 5% of sprinkler revenue annually in
order to recover the cost of the patent purchase within the patents lifetime. This value
should be within reason given a strong marketing effort and because potential
customers will be addressing environmental, conservational, and/or efficiency issues in
their irrigation applications. The Area-Programmable Sprinkler of the Nelson and
Nelson patent is a unique solution to these concerns.















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Pros and Cons for Area-Programmable Sprinkler

Pro Con
Unique intellectual property that is defensible Only prototype available, no testing units ready
to date
Adaptable to variety of applications Untested in many settings
Can address multiple sectors of the industry
(residential, commercial, agricultural)
Will have to overcome industrys inertia in
current systems of irrigation
Same device can be demonstrated to show
efficacy in all areas of concern (e.g.,
environmental, conservation, and efficiency)

Relatively easy to manufacture
Could be easily distributed
Ease of demonstration, data collection for proof
of concept studies

Easy for stakeholders to judge value of product
applications


References
Drury, Sally. 2011. Irrigation Systems. www.HorticultureWeek.co.uk, 6 May 2011, accessed 3 Jan
2013.

Harris, Anne. 2012. The Drop in Demand. Engineering and Technology 7(11):50-51.
December, 2012.

Jacobs, Dan. 2012. An Entrepreneur Turns Inventor. Landscapemanagement.net, May, 2012.
Accessed 3 Jan 2013.

Laws, Forrest, Hembree Brandon. 2012. Precision Irrigation Technology Allows Farmers to Boost
Corn/Bean Yields while using less Water. Southern Corn and Soybean Production Guide,
November, 2012.

Nelson, Rodney L. and LaLonni L. N. Nelson, 2012. Area-Programmable Sprinkler, US
Patent 8,302,822, granted 6 November 2012. Accessed 3 Jan 3013, Google Patents.

Parsons, Bronwen. 2006. The Engineering of Golf Courses. Canadian Consulting
Engineer, June/July 2006. Accessed 3 Jan 2013,
www.canadianconsultingengineer.com.

Rain Bird, October 2011. Rain Bird. Landscapemanagement.net, accessed 3 Jan 2013.

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URLs for Companies
Hunter Industries
http://www.hunterindustries.com/
MP Rotator (Hunter Ind.) Video
http://www.hunterindustries.com/product/nozzles/mp-rotator
Programmable timer (Hunter Ind.) http://www.hunterindustries.com/tools/runtime
Nelson Sprinklers (held by Bosch Tools)
http://www.lrnelson.com/about-us/
http://www.bosch.us/content/language1/html/867.htm
http://www.bosch.us/content/language1/downloads/Bosch_BiNA_2012_version7.pdf
Orbit
http://www.orbitonline.com/
Signature Irrigation
http://www.signaturesprinkler.com/
Toro Tractor Company
http://www.toro.com/en-us/pages/default.aspx
SEC 10K filing:
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=62289&p=IROL-
secToc&TOC=aHR0cDovL2FwaS50ZW5rd2l6YXJkLmNvbS9vdXRsaW5lLnhtbD9yZXBvPXRlbmsma
XBhZ2U9ODYyMTc3Nw%3d%3d&ListAll=1&sXBRL=1
Valmont Industries
http://www.valmont.com
Valley Irrigation (Variable Rate Irrig.):
http://www.valleyirrigation.com/page.aspx?id=2342&pid=42
Valley Corners:
http://www.valleyirrigation.com/userfiles/file/Domestic%20Brochures/ValleyIrrigation_Corners_
August2012.p
Financials:
http://www.valmont.com/page.aspx?id=22
Weathermatic
http://www.weathermatic.com/content/smartlink-network-property-owners
Factoids from Weathermatic (not checked):
50% of water use is landscape, and 38% of that is overwatering.
If annual bill is $6000 for landscape watering, the overwater is about $2300.
1950, US water use was 35 gal/person-day, now it is 100 gal/person-day
Wordle Site
http://www.wordle.net/
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V. RESPONSE TO PROS AND CONS OF THE WSU REPORT

The Pros in the foregoing WSU Valuation Report outweigh the Cons and basically
neutralize Con #1 and Con #2. Of the three Cons mentioned, Con #3 states: "Will have to
overcome industry's inertia in current systems of irrigation." That is the challenge for any new
groundbreaking technology. However, it is exactly those types of inventions which, with time,
achieve the greatest value in the market.
Examples of profoundly profitable new technologies that overcame inertia include
semiconductors versus vacuum tubes; the Edison light bulb versus gas lighting; CFL and LED
light bulbs versus incandescent lighting. A current market example is the market adoption of
hybrid and electric automobiles.
Area-programmable-sprinkler technology has the real world advantage of: reducing
water usage, helping overcome the current water-wasting technology, saving money (and thus
offset any higher costs of implementing the APSS technology), saving precious fresh water,
providing more even irrigation, reducing damage from overspray, increasing produce
production and, as a bonus, it blends perfectly with the world wide Go Green movement.
The inertia "Con" suggested will actually become a "Pro" as the APSS technology saves
money and increases productivity for those adopting the technology. Once "early adopters"
have proven the obvious benefits of implementing the APSS technology, there will be the
predictable industry catch up rush to use this technology.




VI. WATER FACTS

There are approximately 326 million trillion gallons of water on our planet. This water
is in a constant cycle it evaporates from the ocean, travels through the air, rains down on the
land and then flows back to the ocean. The 326 million trillion gallons of water covers
approximately 70% of the Earths surface, but less than one percent of that amount is available
for human use. Ninety-eight percent (98%) of the water on the planet is in the oceans, and
therefore is unusable for drinking or irrigation, because of the salt. About two percent of the
planets water is fresh, but 1.6 percent (1.6%) of this fresh water is locked up in the polar ice
caps and glaciers. Another 0.36 percent (0.36%) if found in aquifers and wells. About 0.036
percent (0.036%) of the planets total water supply is found in lakes and rivers.
The world must share this small amount for agricultural, domestic, commercial,
industrial, and environmental needs. Across the globe, water consumption has tripled in the
last 50 years. Managing the supply and availability of water is one of the most critical natural
resource issues facing the United States and the world.




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Climate Change

Climate change is warming the atmosphere and changing the water cycle. This in turn is
affecting the quantity, frequency, type and intensity of precipitation and also the flow of water
into watersheds. Climate change is also:

Compounding existing water risks through wasteful usage.
Producing high levels of stress on local infrastructures and on storage capacities.
Decreasing the amounts of water available for business activities, personal use, and
global fresh water applications.
Affecting operational functions and creating major financial losses due to disruption of
supply for business.
Constantly increasing the cost of water globally and these costs continue to rise as fresh
water glaciers melt and mix with salt water.

Agricultural Demand for Water

Water is essential for the production of food. Agricultural crops are so dependent on
water, that intentionally adding water, beyond what naturally falls as rain is widely practiced
to increase agricultural production. This critical practice is known as irrigation. It is estimated
that 40 percent of all crops grown in the world today are grown using irrigation. The practice
of irrigation can increase the productivity of crops on what would otherwise be rain-fed
agriculture. It can also expand agriculture into areas where it would not otherwise be
practiced due to aridity.

1. Agriculture accounts for more than two-thirds of global water use, and that amount
equals 92% of all freshwater used globally. Specifically, water-intensive cereal grains
like wheat, rice and corn account for 27%; meat production 22%; and dairy seven
percent. http://www.treehugger.com/sustainable-agriculture/agriculture-consumes-92-
all-freshwater-used-globally-and-us-leads-capita-consumption.html
2. Farms and their wasteful irrigation systems are major contributors to water scarcity on
the globe.
3. Farmers are central to the whole water shortage picture.
4. There is always a demand for more efficient ways to use water for irrigation.
5. Part of the answer to the demand for better water use is more efficient irrigation
systems. Circle sprinklers leave 21% of the area without irrigation in a crop circle.


Commercial Demand for Water

Green parks, recreational fields, and golf courses rely on water to keep the grass and soil
moist and healthy. Some experts estimate that up to 50% of commercial and residential
17 | P a g e

irrigation water use goes to waste due to evaporation, wind, improper system design, or
overwatering.

1. There are now approximately 16,000 golf courses in the United States.
http://www.bestcourses.com/faq/
2. The average American Golf course uses 312,000 gallons per day. Golf course irrigation
is estimated to use more than 476 billion gallons of water annually in the US. Same
web site as above. In desert areas, such as Palm Springs, each course uses up to a
million gallons a day. The Golf industry is seeking new technologies to improve the
efficiency of their irrigation systems, including improving irrigation uniformity
through careful evaluation of sprinkler head design.
3. Owners of golf courses that utilize utility-provided water have rising costs.
4. There is pressure from both a water source availability standpoint and as a public
perception standpoint. The public looks at large water users, like golf courses, as
competition.
5. Counter intuitively, the price of water is increasing as its use decreases.

Residential Demand for Water

An American family of four can use 400 gallons of water per day, and about 30% of
that is devoted to outdoor uses. More than half of that outdoor water is used for watering
lawns and gardens. Nationwide, landscape irrigation is estimated to account for almost one-
third of all residential water use, totaling more than 7 billion gallons per day. Water use varies
greatly depending on geographic location and season, largely as a result of differences in
climate. Water withdrawals for irrigation and landscaping are highest in the drier regions of
the West and Southwest, where population growth is often greatest.
http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense/pubs/outdoor.html

1. Demand for water is increasing significantly due to economic development and
population growth.
2. Fresh water consumption worldwide has more than doubled since World War II and is
expected to rise another 25% by 2030.
3. Total fresh water is but one percent of total global water available.
4. Demand in the United States increases daily as the population expands and more
personal, commercial and agricultural uses evolve.
http://www.ead.anl.gov/pub/doc/ANL-EVS-TM08-8_water_demand_report.pdf
This report provides estimates of domestic freshwater demand as expressed by
consumption to the year 2030 in five-year increments at the national and regional
levels for energy and non-energy uses. This report was funded by the U.S. Department
of Energys National Energy Technology Laboratory.
5. Three countries are responsible for nearly 38% of global water consumption: China,
India, and the United States, but the U.S., which has a much smaller population than
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China or India, led the world in per capita consumption: 2842 cubic meters each year,
compared with the global average of 1385 cubic meters per year.
http://www.treehugger.com/sustainable-agriculture/agriculture-consumes-92-all-
freshwater-used-globally-and-us-leads-capita-consumption.html
VII. APPLICATIONS AND BENEFITS OF THE
AREA-PROGRAMMABLE SPRINKLER SYSTEM (APSS)
Agricultural and golf course irrigation involves millions of acres of land. Residential
gardens, private lawns, parks, condominium & apartment complexes and recreational areas
account for millions of acres that also require irrigation. People require fresh drinking water.
Without water we die. With water we have drink, food, beauty and recreation. The APSS will
help contribute to reducing the water problems that exist by providing water for agricultural,
commercial and residential landscape only where it is needed.
Agriculture
APSSs application to farm irrigation will make a profound difference when applied to
the modification of center set sprinkler systems. There are some 10,000 center pivot systems
in operation in Nebraska alone. The state of Nebraska is largest producer and user of center
pivots in the United States. The last patented improvement in center set sprinklers was in
1952. Such sprinklers have been in use since 1947 with only minor mechanical changes,
unrelated to their ultimate irrigation function. World wide there are hundreds of thousands
of center set sprinklers in use.
An APSS center pivot sprinkler squares the circle of current center point systems. The
world is facing not so much a food crisis as a water crisis, argues Colin Chartres,
International Water Management Institute (IWMI), a research center, IWMIs director
general. The solution, Mr. Chartres and others contend, is more efficient use of water or, as
the sloganeers put it, more crop per drop. (http://www.economist.com/node/12260907)
With current center point systems only 79% of the square is irrigated.
Benefits to agricultural users:
One hundred percent (100%) of the square is irrigated using the APSS, generating a
21% increase in produce production per square.
Labor costs are reduced as the weed killer and other soil & produce treatment is
delivered via a sprinkler rather than manually.
The number of acres irrigated with sprinkler and micro-irrigation systems has
continued to increase and now comprises more than one-half the total irrigated
acreage. http://nationalatlas.gov/articles/water/a_wateruse.html
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Configurations of shapes make little or no difference.
Indoor irrigation, as in greenhouses can be done with square elevated or on ground
applications.
Small, individual farms, with water and elevation (for water pressure), will be able to
grow food and produce more efficiently when dedicated areas are irrigable.
Changes in crop production in areas with adverse growing conditions become feasible.
Commercial/Golf Course
One of the most important issues facing the future of the game of golf is that of water
use. In many areas of the United States, golf courses need large amounts of water to irrigate
the landscape where the game is played. The quality of a golf course is often defined by the
quality of the landscape. Maintaining the quality of the landscape is difficult due to the vast
areas of turf, the often hilly terrain, the limited time which irrigation must occur and the
irregular shape of the course which makes irrigation uniformity very difficult. All of these
issues can lead to excessive water use, especially when the golf course is located in an arid
climate. In 2010, The Alliance for Water Efficiency researched water use on golf courses
across the country and concluded through a water audit that many courses are using 20% to
50% more water than is necessary. Reducing this overuse could create a course savings of
50,000 to 500,000 gallons per year.
For several decades the golf industry has recognized its responsibility to reduce water
use and become less reliant on potable irrigation sources, and has taken many steps to achieve
that goal. The industry has taken a multifaceted approach to the problem including looking
for new technologies that improve the efficiency of the irrigation system. Golf Course
adoption of the APSS system would save water, reduce labor costs, and create courses that
maintain the quality of the landscape.
Benefits to commercial/golf course users:
Labor costs are reduced by the prevention of over-watering, hand watering and the
amount of weed control needed.
Water is conserved by applying it only where it is needed, alleviating overspray and
under spray.
Golf course design is not hindered by terrain limitations.
The installation and replacement cost of sprinkler heads is minimized as fewer heads
are necessary for efficient irrigation.
Residential
The typical home irrigation system is only about 40%-50% efficient. That means that
half of the water applied to the landscape is wasted and not benefiting the plants. Research has
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shown that on average about half of the water used in a single-family American home during
the course of a year will be put onto the landscape. Of the 26 billion gallons of water
consumed daily in the United States, approximately 7.8 billion gallons, or 30%, is devoted to
outdoor uses. The majority of this is used for irrigation. In the summer, the amount of water
used outdoors by a household can exceed the amount used for all other purposes in the entire
year. This is especially true in hot, dry climates.
The typical suburban lawn consumes 10,000 gallons of water above and beyond
rainwater each year. With common watering practices, a large portion of the water applied to
lawns and gardens is not absorbed by the plants. It is lost through evaporation, runoff, or by
watering too quickly or in excess of the plants' needs. Efficient irrigation systems and practices
reduce these losses by applying only as much water as is needed to keep the plants and lawn
healthy.
The APSS technology is directly adaptable to landscaping on present individual
residence properties, apartments, condominiums, municipal parks, parkways and grassed
road dividers strips. APSSs natural market would include all new construction that has a
landscaping component. Another advantage of the APSS sprinklers is that it can be
beneficially used on any sized landscape site, from single sprinkler usage, to large commercial
and agricultural applications.
Benefits to residential users:
The APSS allows more innovative yard and ground surface design with controllable
sprinkling.
The programmable system reduces property damage resulting from overspray outside
of the intended irrigation zone. This is a benefit to both the property owner and
neighbors.
APSS may be retrofitted to existing landscaping methods or applied to new
construction for additional water and cost savings.
APSS can be reset to accommodate any modifications made to landscaping
configurations.
Watering efficiency is increased by at least 33% with the APSS. This is due to a more
even water flow to the intended areas of landscape irrigation and also because
overwatering from overlapping spray has been reduced.
VIII. WATER INVESTMENT AND OUR FUTURE
While our thirst for water steadily rises, the water supply does not. During the 20th
century, the worlds population tripled, but its consumption of water increased sevenfold. By
the year 2050, some 4 billion people (that's over half of the entire world's population) will be
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facing severe water shortages. In the United States, people living in Southwestern states like
Arizona could be facing severe freshwater shortages even sooner -- by 2025. This information
comes from NASA, the World Health Organization (WHO) and other agencies worldwide.
The planet is buckling under the stress of supplying us with water for the seemingly infinite
number of ways we have found to use it.
When the facts are considered, it's not hard to understand why there's a problem:
The world's population tripled in the 20th century, and is expected to increase by
another 40%-50% in the next 50 years.
There isn't any more fresh water in the world today than there was one million years
ago.
Water cannot be replaced (such as alternative fuel sources can replace petroleum).
Today, almost 1.4 billion people live in river basin areas where consumption of water
exceeds the regions ability to replenish itself.
Over-consumption causes rivers to run dry before they reach the sea, underground
water tables dry up and the cost of finding water escalates.
According to the United Nations, by 2025, an estimated 1.8 billion people will live in
areas plagued by water scarcity, with two-thirds of the world's population living in
water-stressed regions as a result of use, growth, and climate change.
History shows that the only direction for water prices at the moment is upward, and
rates will continue to rise at greater than inflationary costs. Increases will vary from
5% to 15% per year.
Today, many of the worlds leading investors and most successful companies are
making big bets on water. There isnt enough freshwater and the situation is expected
to get worse. http://environment.about.com/od/globalwarming/a/waterinvesting.htm
In the next twenty years, global demand for fresh water will vastly outstrip reliable supply
in many parts of the world. Thanks to population growth and agricultural intensification,
humanity is drawing more heavily than ever on shared river basins and underground aquifers.
Meanwhile, global warming is projected to exacerbate shortages in already water-stressed
regions, even as it accelerates the rapid melting of glaciers and snow cover upon which a
billion people depend for their ultimate source of water. This sobering message emerges from
the first U.S. Intelligence Community Assessment of Global Water Security. The document
predicts that by 2030 humanity's "annual global water requirements" will exceed "current
sustainable water supplies" by forty percent.
IX. SPECIFIC GLOBAL AREAS OF WATER USAGE
Data of interest in evaluating Water Needs and Opportunities follow. It is not intended
to be inclusive, but rather reflective of World Wide Water Problems and Issues.
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The highest rates of groundwater depletion are in some of the world's major
agricultural centers: Northwest India, Northeastern China, Northeast Pakistan, California's
central valley and the Midwestern United States. Water for irrigation and food production
constitutes one of the greatest pressures on freshwater resources. Agriculture accounts for
around 70% of global freshwater withdrawals, even up to 90% in some fast-growing
economies. The dietary shift from predominantly starch-based food to meat and dairy, which
require more water, is the greatest impact on water consumption over the past 30 years.
Producing one kg of rice requires approximately 3,500 liters of water while one kg of beef
requires 15,000 liters. Producing that one kg of meat requires as much water as an average
domestic household uses over ten months (50 liters/person/day). Estimates indicate that there
will not be enough water available on current croplands to produce food for the expected
population in 2050 if we follow current trends and changes towards diets common in Western
nations. http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article37104.html
India
1. Surface water and groundwater are the sources of Indias water supply.
2. The India National Water Policy Agency states Water is a prime natural resource, a
basic human need and a precious national asset.
3. There is intense competition between agriculture, industry and domestic sector for
groundwater in India.
4. In 2006 between the domestic, agricultural, and industrial sectors, India used
approximately 829 billion cubic meters of water every year, which is approximately the
size of Lake Erie. By 2050 demand is expected to double and consequently exceed the
1.4 trillion cubic meters of supply. http://www.arlingtoninstitute.org/wbp/global-
water-crisis/606#_ftn13
5. A root cause of the crisis includes allowing extraction of groundwater for irrigation,
exceeding recharge.
6. Fresh water is taking center stage on the economic and political agenda.
7. Even with the full development of ultimate irrigation by 2050 only 65% of net sown
area will receive irrigation.
8. Efficient water use in crop production requires inputs from all sources, including
agricultural scientists.
9. The tragedy of Indias water scarcity is that the crisis could have been largely avoided
with better water management practices. There has been a distinct lack of attention to
water legislation, water conservation, efficiency in water use, water recycling, and
infrastructure. Historically water has been viewed as an unlimited resource that did not
need to be managed as a scarce commodity or provided as a basic human right.
http://www.arlingtoninstitute.org/wbp/global-water-crisis/606#_ftn13
10. As demand for potable water starts to outstrip supply by increasing amounts in
coming years, India will face a slew of subsequent problems, such as food shortages,
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intrastate, and international conflict.
http://www.arlingtoninstitute.org/wbp/global-water-crisis/606#_ftn13
11. India is a global agricultural powerhouse. It is the worlds largest producer of milk,
pulses, and spices, and has the worlds largest cattle herd (buffaloes), as well as the
largest area under wheat, rice and cotton. It is the second largest producer of rice,
wheat, cotton, sugarcane, farmed fish, sheep & goat meat, fruit, vegetables and tea. The
country has some 195 m hectares under cultivation of which some 63% are rain fed
(roughly 125m hectares) while 37% are irrigated (70m hectares). In addition, forests
cover some 65m hectares of Indias land.
http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2012/05/17/india-agriculture-issues-
priorities
The Gulf Countries:
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, and Qatar
1. The specter of an impending water crisis is slowly growing in the Gulf region. One
indication of this came at the closing of the Annual Summit of the Supreme Council of
the GCC on December 7, 2010, when the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of
Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, warned that member states
had to take serious and rapid steps towards a long-term comprehensive Gulf strategy
for water. http://muftah.org/the-gulf-countries-water-crisis/
2. The Gulf Countries are among the driest in the world, with an average rainfall of
70mm/year to 130mm/year.
3. Most of the natural water supply comes from groundwater and shallow or deep
aquifers, and is being extracted at a rate far outpacing its natural replenishment. While
the recharge of GCC aquifers takes place at an annual rate of 4.8 million cubic meters,
the amount extracted by GCC countries in 2007 was around 19.5million cubic meters.
4. 80%-90% of total fresh water use by the Gulf Countries is for agriculture.
5. Some oil-rich Arab countries have turned en masse to desalination to address the
problem. More than 1,500 massive plants now line the Gulf and the Mediterranean
and provide much of North Africa and the Middle East's drinking water.
6. Only now are countries starting to see the downsides of desalination. Salt levels in the
Arabian Gulf are eight times higher in some places than they should be, as power-
hungry water plants return salt to an already saline sea. The higher salinity of the
seawater is causing the marine life to suffer and is affecting coral and fishing catches.
7. The Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) has launched a two year
agricultural campaign with the main aim to further enhance the farmers' awareness
over the optimal use of water irrigation and the adoption of good agricultural practices
and the promotion of local agricultural products. Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority
has set a target of cutting agricultural water use by 40% from its September 2011 level
by the end of this year.
http://www.adfca.ae/english/news/pages/authorityemphasizes.aspx
24 | P a g e
8. The Environment Agency Abu Dhabi and ADFCA are focusing on using the most
water-efficient technologies.
9. A new report coming from the Arab Forum for Environment and Development,
Water: Sustainable Management of a Scarce Resource, shows that by the end of the
21st century Arab countries could see a 25% decrease in precipitation, coupled with a
25% increase in evaporation as the global climate changes. The result: Average crop
yields in the region studied dropping by 20%. http://www.treehugger.com/clean-
water/water-scarcity-spares-just-two-arab-nations-by-2015.html
Canada
1. Canada has six percent of the world's "renewable" fresh water (water replenished by
precipitation, runoff or groundwater recharge). Canada has the third largest collection
of fresh water, after Brazil and Russia but 60% of this fresh water drains northward
into the Arctic Ocean and Hudson Bay, away from where it is needed most -- along the
band hugging the U.S. border where 85% of Canadians live.
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=1d324e25-0a20-4e3e-
b1ba-ea2f35386bb0
2. The large majority of Canadas water is fossil water retained in lakes, underground
aquifers, and glaciers.
3. The agricultural sector is an important contributor to Canadas prosperity and well-
being. In 2011, primary agriculture alone produced $51.1 billion in gross farm receipts.
It also plays a vital role in the food sector which is linked to nearly $100 billion per year
in economic activity and approximately 1 in 7.5 Canadian jobs.
http://www.usask.ca/water/news-and-events/news/news52.php
4. In 2010, 7,685 farms irrigated their crops. The majority of irrigating farms were
located in British Columbia (40%), followed by Alberta (30%) and Ontario (13%). The
South Saskatchewan drainage region had the highest number of irrigating farms
with 2,435 farms irrigating their crops. The Fraser-Lower Mainland and Okanagan-
Similkameen drainage regions also had a large number of farms that irrigated crops,
with 1,360 and 1,115 irrigating farms, respectively.
5. Alberta has approximately 60% of the irrigated cropland in Canada.
6. Much of Albertas irrigated land lies in the Saskatchewan River Basin. Agriculture in
this region consumes roughly 2,200 MCM a year from the river, removing about 28%
of the total annual flow of the river.
7. There are 340,000 irrigated hectares in Saskatchewan. These acres are located
throughout the province. Saskatchewan's climate makes it appealing for irrigation
development, as moisture is the main limitation to agriculture in most areas of the
province. Irrigation has been used as a tool to diversify the rural economy and to
stabilize crop production. http://www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/
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8. Irrigation presently uses less than five percent of the mean annual inflow into Lake
Diefenbaker, Saskatchewan, which holds over nine billion cubic meters of water. The
area offers a unique combination of good agricultural land and abundant untapped
water sources. http://www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/Default.aspx?DN=9a3dbb08-1ece-
45a2-ae2e-570ba5b479ad
9. Irrigation in Canada is a relatively recent phenomenon. Since 1915 provincial
governments have helped local communities organize irrigation developments,
resulting in a rapid increase of irrigated areas.



China

1. It is being projected that the demand for water in China will exceed the supply by 25
percent by the year 2030.
2. China is home to seven percent of the worlds freshwater reserves and it is also home
to 20% of the worlds population. To put this in perspective, China has over four
times the population of the US, but only about one fifth of the water availability.
3. In China, 80% of the major rivers have become so horribly polluted that they do not
support any aquatic life at all at this point. http://www.infowars.com/30-facts-about-
the-coming-water-crisis-that-will-change-the-lives-of-every-person-on-the-planet/
4. In addition to the pollution in the major Chinese rivers, 50 percent of groundwater in
cities, and 77% of key lakes and reservoirs are also unfit for humans.
5. 4.05 million hectares of land are irrigated with polluted water. Polluted crops mean
bad crop yields and unhealthy food. http://www.businessinsider.com/china-water-
risk-2011-11?op=1#ixzz2PX0pg1Ni
6. Each year in northern China, the water table drops by an average of about one meter
due to severe drought and over-pumping, and the size of the desert increases by an
area equivalent to the state of Rhode Island. http://www.infowars.com/30-facts-
about-the-coming-water-crisis-that-will-change-the-lives-of-every-person-on-the-
planet/
7. The main problem facing agriculture in China: only 15% of Chinas land is arable,
but 60% of this lies in the North where there is a lack of water availability. The
North China Plain is home to over 200 million people, but only receives limited
rainfall. At current levels, it will be drained of all its groundwater within 30 years.
http://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/China-Heading-Towards-an-
Unavoidable-Water-Crisis.html
8. Water shortages cost China an estimated $39 billion a year in lost crops, lower
industrial production and stalled economic output.
http://factsanddetails.com/china.php?itemid=390
9. Every year, on average 15.3 million hectares of Chinese farmland13% of the total
faces drought.
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10. Roughly 65% of the country's total water usage goes to agriculture, but less than half
actually reaches the crops; the rest leaks from pipes, evaporates, or is otherwise lost
on the way to the fields, according to World Bank statistics.
http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2009-04-15/china-faces-a-water-
crisisbusinessweek-business-news-stock-market-and-financial-advice
Australia
1. The west Australian coastal city of Perth is in a drought situation and will possibly
run out of water in the near future.
2. Perth has seen a 21 percent decline in rainfall, but stream flow has dropped some
65% according to Australias water ministry.
3. The minister states We need more water were absolutely running out. For an
overall evaluation of the Australian water situation open the link.
http://www.wentworthgroup.org/docs/Chartres_%26_Williams.pdf
4. Desalination has become a major source of drinking water in Australia; however,
that industry is falling behind the need for the increased demand of fresh water.
5. Australian water shortages suggest future governments will have to ration water
according to mining, agriculture and major cities usages.
6. When water shortages appeared for the first time in Australia, people began
questioning the sustainability of their jobs.
7. Looked at from any angle, Australia has a water problem.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-04-06/water-shortage-threatens-big-
australia/2584556
United States
1. Currently the United States uses approximately 148 trillion (148,000,000,000,000)
gallons of fresh water per year. This unsustainable amount of fresh water usage must
be addressed by employing more efficient conservation methods.
2. In the last five years, nearly every region of the country has experienced water
shortages. At least 36 states are anticipating local, regional, or statewide water
shortages by 2013, even under non-drought conditions.
http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense/pubs/supply.html
3. Irrigation accounts for about a third of water use and is currently the largest user of
fresh water in the United States. The number of acres irrigated with sprinkler and
micro-irrigation systems has continued to increase and now comprises more than one-
half the total irrigated acreage. http://nationalatlas.gov/articles/water/a_wateruse.html
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4. In North America the major concern is over water levels in the Ogallala aquifer under
the U.S. Great Plains. The Ogallala is the world's largest known aquifer having an
approximate area of 450,600 square kilometers and stretches from southern South
Dakota through parts of Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, New
Mexico, and northern Texas.
5. The Ogallala Aquifer was formed roughly 10 million years ago when water flowed onto
the plains from retreating glaciers and streams of the Rocky Mountains. The Ogallala is
no longer being recharged by the Rockies and precipitation in the region is only 30-60
cm per year. http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article37104.html
6. Decades ago, the Ogallala Aquifer had an average depth of approximately 240 feet, but
today the average depth is just 80 feet. In some areas of Texas, the water is gone
completely.
7. California's Central Valley is sometimes called the nation's "fruit and vegetable basket."
The High Plains, which run from northwest Texas to southern Wyoming and South
Dakota, are sometimes called the country's "grain basket." They account for half of all
groundwater depletion in the U.S., mainly as a result of irrigating crops.
8. The nation's food supply may be vulnerable to rapid groundwater depletion from
irrigated agriculture, according to a new study by researchers at The University of
Texas at Austin.
9. Bridget Scanlon, senior research scientist at The University of Texas at Austin's Bureau
of Economic Geology and lead author of the study suggested one solution to make
irrigated agriculture in the Central Valley more sustainable: Replace flood irrigation
systems (used on about half of crops) with more efficient sprinkle and drip systems.



















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X. FINAL STATEMENT/THE HAMMER
THE AREA PROGRAMMABLE SPRINKLER SYSTEM
This invention will change the water delivery industry worldwide in significant and
long lasting ways. The global need for water conservation is easily demonstrated from the
documentation shown. Combined, these facts make for a great opportunity. The person or
entity with the foresight to seize this opportunity will reap the benefits of bringing a patented
novel solution to the major water problems facing mankind.
EPAC (E-mailable packet) Franklin Duncan/Jay Dawson 2012
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XI. PRICE AND CONTACT INFORMATION
PRICE:
$99,000,000.00USD (Ninety Nine Million United States Dollars)
For this price the Granted United States Utility Patent No. US 8,302,882 B2 Dated
Nov. 6, 2012 becomes yours, together with all the current rights and the future profits. The
patent will be fully assigned; this includes all related filings, both foreign and domestic. The
patent can then be resold, licensed for manufacture, set up for manufacture, or any
combination you choose. The patent can be taken in whatever direction the purchaser so
desires.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Franklin Duncan
LeDuncan Innovations, Inc.
509-255-4052 or 509-995-7547
E-mail:
firehunter.aps@comcast.net
or
Jay Dawson
360-921-4968
E-mail:
watersaver.aps@comcast.net
Time zone: Pacific Daylight Savings Time,
in the United States
30 | P a g e
LETTER OF INTENT
Offer Letter for Purchase of the Area-Programmable Sprinkler
Technology and Intellectual Property

I, name of representative , as title of name of entity
proposing to purchase APS IP , hereby offer to purchase the intellectual property for the Area-
Programmable Sprinkler (protected by U.S. Patent No. 8,302,882, along with other pending U.S. and
foreign patent applications from Rodney and LaLonni Lee Nelson, who represent themselves as being
the owners of the Area-Programmable Sprinkler intellectual property.

On behalf of name of entity proposing to purchase APS IP , I hereby offer
enter amount in both number and word form for purchase of the entire right title and interest
in and to the Area-Programmable Sprinkler intellectual property and technology.

This offer is contingent upon receipt of a due-diligence study, to be completed within 2 (two)
weeks of the date of this offer. I reserve the right to withdraw or modify the above offer pending the
outcome of the due-diligence study. The due-diligence study shall be funded by, and performed on
behalf of, name of entity proposing to purchase APS IP .

I further understand that Rodney Nelson and LaLonni Lee Nelson have offered to make
available to me certain information which may assist in the completion of the due-diligence study, but
that this information will only be provided under terms of confidentiality (such terms to be set forth in
a separate Non-Disclosure Agreement).

I understand that the above offer does not preclude Rodney Nelson and LaLonni Lee Nelson
from entertaining other offers for sale of the Area-Programmable Sprinkler intellectual property and
technology.
Or
I understand that Rodney Nelson and LaLonni Lee Nelson agree that they will not accept any
other offers for sale of the Area-Programmable Sprinkler intellectual property and technology within 2
(two) weeks of the date of this offer, and provide herewith a non-refundable deposit of $20,000 in
consideration of their agreement to not accept any other offers during this time.
I represent and warrant that I am authorized to make these commitments on behalf of
name of entity proposing to purchase APS IP .
For name of entity proposing to purchase APS IP :
Name:
Title:
Signature:
Date:
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XII. THE PATENT
XII. THE PATENT
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THE PATENT
APS Patent/Patent Application Summary

1. U.S. Pat. No. 8,302,882 B2 (filed 21 July 2010 and issued 6 November 2012).*
2. U.S. Patent Application No. 13/573,585 (Continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No.
8,302,882), filed 26 September 2012. (Not yet published.)
3. European Patent Application No. 11740743.7, filed 17 January 2013.**
4. Canadian Patent Application No. 2,806,272, filed circa 22 January 2013.**
5. Australian Patent Application No. 2011280241, filed circa 19 February 2013 (and
assigned a filing date in Australia of 19 July 2011).**

*The claims of U.S. Pat. No. 8,302,882 were granted on a first-action allowance, and thus are not subject to any
limitations as a result of prosecution history.

**Based on International Application PCT/US2011/001276, international filing date 19 July 2011, Publication
No. WO 2012/011945 A2, and claiming priority to U.S. Pat. App. Serial No. 12/804,417 filed 21 July 2010 (now
U.S. Patent No. 8,302,882).

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Thank you for your time and consideration. Please contact Franklin Duncan or Jay Dawson
for any additional questions regarding purchase of the Area-Programmable Sprinkler
intellectual property and technology.

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