Contact: Mike Farrell Assured Automation Phone: 800 899-0553 or 732-381-2255 Cell: 732 713-3385 http://assuredautomation.com mikef@aa-fs.

com

Metering and Monitoring Water Consumption Across Americas Golf Courses

Golf courses, municipalities, even families trying to ration their water consumption rely on inexpensive and durable water meters, like the TM Series Digital Flow Meter sold by Assured Automation. Water meters provide a quantitative analysis of water consumption reduction efforts, and by calculating irrigation volumes, they enable golf course superintendents to effectively manage water consumption and avoid costly municipal fines. When asked about the advantages that water meters provide golf course superintendents, Jim Schumacher, founder of the Golf Preservation Foundation and Aqua Turf International -- an industry leading international irrigation consulting firm, says the first step in water conservation is to accurately monitor water usage. Once accurate data is available on the daily use, this [data] can then be compared against the real requirements [of a course] then a proper evaluation can be made. Greg Lyman, Director of Environmental Programs at the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), states simply that the GCSAA considers water meters part of the solution. You cant manage what you cant measure. Water management efforts are being implemented at golf courses across the country to deal with the growing economic, environmental, and humanitarian effects of excessive water consumption. According to the Center for Irrigation Technology, the US uses approximately 476 billion gallons of water each year to irrigate its golf courses. In a world where water represents a finite and vital resource, these consumption rates pose dangerous consequences. A United Nations Environmental Program report in 2007 estimated that by 2025, there will be 1.8 billion people across the world who live in conditions of absolute water scarcity, and two thirds of the planet will be subject to water stress. The United Nations reports it will require 2.5 billion gallons of water each day to sustain the worlds 4.7

billion people. Today, the cumulative amount of water used to irrigate the worlds golf courses is just that: 2.5 billion gallons every day1. And the cost of water is on the rise. Everywhere. With the exception of 2005, the Boston Water and Sewer Commission, in Boston, MA, raised water rates on companies and residents every single year since 2002. Residents of San Diego, CA have seen their water rates increase 67% over the last three years2. In 2010, Houston TX raised rates nearly 30% 3. New York City has increased water rates by an astounding 134% since 20024. Over the last five years, the municipal costs of water have jumped by an average of 27% across the US. These increases in water costs can seriously threaten the economic viability of a golf course. In 2010, the city council in Lake Havasu City, AZ approved an effluent water rate increase that raised the cost of golf course irrigation from $52 to $144 per acre/foot5,6. By 2014, golf courses in Lake Havasu City will pay roughly $330 per acre/foot. This means that the water costs for golf courses in Lake Havasu City will jump over 630% in four years. Already, the Environmental Institute for Golf estimates that the average 18-hole golf course facility in the United States Southwest faces water costs exceeding $107,800 annually7. Municipal fines over water consumption limits are another financial threat currently faced by golf courses. In New Jersey, the NJ Water Supply Management Act limits the water consumption of many golf courses to 100,000 gallons per day (N.J.S.A. 58:1A-1). Violators caught exceeding the allowable 100,000 gallons per day face fines up to $50,000. Examples of fines levied by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection include: Eagle Ridge Golf Course of Lakewood NJ settled for $25,000 for exceeding the allowable un-permitted 100,000 gallon daily. Shore Oaks Golf Club, in Farmingdale NJ, settled for $50,000 over claims that Shore Oakss irrigation exceeded the daily 100,000 gallon limit without proper permits. Westlake Golf and Country Club, in Jackson NJ, settled for $15,000 for excessive water usage.8

The list goes on.

1 2

http://www.waterinfo.org/resources/water-facts http://www.kpbs.org/news/2011/jan/24/city-debates-antoerh-water-rate-increase/ 3 http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7071597.html 4 http://www.vosizneias.com/86768/2011/07/04/new-york-ny-water-rates-increased-by-134-sincebloomberg-took-office 5 Acre/foot is a measurement used by water purveyors that gauges the amount of water needed to provide one foot of water across an acre of land 6 http://www.havasunews.com/articles/2011/03/19/news/doc4d84291eaecaa062631554.txt 7 http://www.eifg.org/programs/baselinesurvey.asp 8 http://www.state.nj.us/dep/newsrel/releases/02_0091.htm

The financial, social, and environmental stresses of water consumption are all factors that highlight the importance of water consumption monitoring, particularly in environments that demand significant irrigation, like golf courses. Jim Skorulski, the senior agronomist of the United States Golf Association (USGA), says that water consumption: is of large concern with golf course managers. We, [the USGA] advocate judicious use of water to conserve the vital resource, control operating costs and to produce firm and fast playing conditions. More golf courses are completing irrigation audits of existing systems to improve their efficiency or justify the need to replace and modernize the irrigation system. Many golf course superintendents also utilize TDR moisture meters and moisture sensors to better track soil moisture content to improve the irrigation system and guiding the hand-watering practices. Efficient sprinkler systems, TDR moisture meters, the selection of grasses on a course, the height at which the grass is maintained, the amount of shading the grass receives from trees, and the rate at which the soil is aerated are all factors that can lead to significant decreases in a golf courses water consumption. But the only way to monitor these decreases, the only way to audit and verify the effectiveness of a superintendents strategies, the only way to monitor the daily, weekly, or monthly levels of water consumption is through the implementation of water meters. For more information regarding water meters, visit www.assuredautomation.com. --- SIDEBAR --Water Meter Installation Best Practices In order to properly install Assured Automation TM water meters for irrigation at golf courses or nurseries, first flush the water lines upstream of the meter. Doing so will remove any buildup in the water lines and will protect your new meter as it is installed. Then place the meter into the line with the meter face easily viewable for inspection. It is necessary to attach the meter with the arrow pointed in the direction of the water flow. A bypass line should be installed as well. For the bypass, we suggest installing Assured Automations PTP Series 3-way PVC ball valves upstream and downstream from the water meter. The bypass serves multiple purposes: 1. 2. Protects the flow meter from damage Allows for meter maintenance and replacement without disruption of service

Bypass Lines Protect Flow Meters

When water flow is started from a cold start through the water meter, it is possible that too much air will be in the line, causing the meters turbine to over-spin and then burn out the meters bearing. A bypass line allows the downstream section of the line to fill with water, minimizing the amount of air in the line and protecting the meter. Once the downstream line fills with water, the flow can be diverted from the bypass and sent through the water meter. Bypass Lines Enable Meter Maintenance By installing a 3-way valve upstream and downstream from the water meter, the meter can also be isolated for maintenance or replacements. Recommended Distance Between Meter and 3-Way Ball Valves The distance between the meter and the upstream 3-way valve should be 10 times the pipes internal diameter to keep consistent pressure in the line. For example, if the pipe diameter is 2, the 3-way valves should be placed 20 from the upstream end of the meter. For the downstream end of the meter, place the 3-way ball valve at a distance of 5 times the internal diameter of the pipe. The Assured Automation water meter can be installed in-line either horizontally or vertically or at the end of the hose adjacent to the nozzle. Installation to metal connections is not recommended for the TM Series flow meters. TM Series meters are available with either a computer for local electronic display, or a conditioned signal output module to provide a digital signal to customer interfacing equipment. TM Series meters with computer display measure in gallons or liters.

CAPTION

Schematic diagram of TM Series flow meter installation with bypass using two PTP Series 3-way PVC ball valves from Assured Automation. Verify that the water meter is in place and ready for use before turning the water flow back on. Once this has been verified, slowly open the valves that were turned off prior to installation. Turning these valves open too quickly can flow into the water meter too quickly and damage the unit. Verify that water is flowing through the unit and perform a leak check to ensure that the water meter has been properly sealed. Once you have checked for leaks, open all valves. ### About Assured Automation Assured Automation is a privately held company that sells automated valves, actuators, flow meters, and valve accessories. Located in Clark NJ, Assured Automations customers include original equipment manufacturers, resellers, and end users. Their products are used for fluid and gas applications in air drying, pollution control, process control, laundry equipment, textile dyeing & drying, bottling & dispensing equipment, ink & paint dispensing, industrial compressors, and others. For more information contact Assured Automation at 800-899-0553, by e-mail at info@assuredautomation.com or visit www.assuredautomation.com.
For more information

Write: Assured Automation, 19 Walnut Avenue, Clark, NJ 07066 Tel: 800-899-0553 or 732-381-2255 Fax: 732-381-2328 Email: info@assuredautomation.com or billf@aa-fs.com