The SmarTimer/Edgescape Evaluation Project (SEEP) is an extension of a rebate program run by the Municipal Water District of Orange County.
The purpose of the SEEP is to implement 3 specific groups of Best Management Practices (BMPs) to improve water use efficiency of landscape irrigation across a set of residential and non-residential subwatersheds, and to evaluate the BMPs’ effectiveness in reducing water usage, dry weather runoff and pollutant loads for constituents of concern. Three different BMPs (Evapotranspiration-based “Smart” controllers, irrigation distribution system improvements, and turfgrass replacement with drought-tolerant edgescaping) or combinations thereof, will be evaluated and compared to control sites. Rebate-based marketing programs, implementation standards and technical support will be developed to assist participants in cities across Southern Orange County to accomplish consistent BMP implementation. Pre- and post-retrofit assessments for water usage, dry-weather runoff flow, fecal indicator bacteria, nutrient loads and surface flow seepage ratios will be made for each subwatershed and a report detailing the results of the project will be produced.
Laguna Beach is participating in this project with many of our neighboring municipalities and regional agencies. Our partners include:
City of Laguna Niguel |
City of Laguna Woods |
City of Dana Point |
City of Lake Forest |
City of San Clemente |
City of Newport Beach |
City of Laguna Hills |
Laguna Beach County Water District |
City of Mission Viejo |
South Coast Water District |
City of Laguna Beach |
Irvine Ranch Water District |
City of San Juan Capistrano |
El Toro Water District |
City of Rancho Santa Margarita |
Moulton Niguel Water District |
City of Aliso Viejo |
Santa Margarita Water District |
| Trabuco Canyon Water District |
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The desired outcomes of the project are:
- Retrofitting of SmarTimers, irrigation distribution system improvements, and turfgrass replacement BMPs at 10 to 30% of single-family residential (SFR) and at all targeted non-single family (non-SFR) sites within the study watersheds.
- Documenting the relative effectiveness of the BMP retrofits by conducting field measurements and evaluating pre- and post-retrofit water sales volume, MS4 low flow rates and laboratory analyses of bacteria and nutrient loads.
- Assessing the proportion of dry-weather irrigation-generated surface flows vs. subsurface seepage inputs to the MS4 through comparative analyses of shifts in electrical conductivity vs. flow rate;
- Assessing the possible causal relationship of fecal indicator bacteria concentrations to dissolved organic carbon concentrations in runoff; and
- Assessing the relative effectiveness of the proposed BMP implementation program in achieving high retrofit participation rates and other load reduction goals.
The SEEP project is funded by a 2005 – 2006 Consolidated Grants – Proposition 40 Urban Stormwater Grant. |
