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CONNECTICUT IRRIGATION CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION JULY 2018

Promoting Excellence in Landscape Irrigation

Installation

SUPPLIER & SERVICE MEMBERS

ATLANTIC IRRIGATION SPECIALTIES, INC.

CONNECTICUT WINPUMP CO.

CENTRAL TURF AND IRRIGATION SUPPLY

HUNTER INDUSTRIES

NORTHERN DESIGNS, LLC

SITEONE LANDSCAPE SUPPLY

President’s Message

This spring has been both normal and abnormal:

• Winter held out longer than expected and we are effectively 3 weeks behind schedule.

• It was wet and cool but we still can’t keep up with the work and customer requirements.

• We are not experiencing drought conditions, but water restrictions are being expanded and the CT Water Plan is moving forward.

• Despite the hard work by our great employees, they can’t keep every customer happy and keep up with the work load, and, it is hard to find new people to train and work in this industry.

I hope we all keeping sane and make time to not work every minute of every day.

The CICA is always working during this time, but we have had fewer Board meetings and activities due to scheduling conflicts. But, we have had meetings with Aquarion and the towns affected by the water restrictions. We are learning how to work with customers and Aquarion through the variance process. We have also attended meetings regarding the CT Water Plan and some new unforeseen issues regarding its approval. The CICA is working for you on these important issues.

I have been meeting with a new group, The CT Green Industry Alliance. Our group consists of other Green Industry associations and we share schedules and issues. We are currently working on hosting an Awards Dinner sometime in November. We are being asked to fill some seats and develop an award for the Irrigation Industry.

Keep up with our activities this year! Make sure to join us for Family Day and the Golf Outing – your involvement is the most important part of what keeps this organization viable.

Gov. Malloy Signs Order Implementing the State Water Plan, Reaffirms Commitment to Water as a Public Trust, page 6

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2017-2018 CICA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PRESIDENT Stephen Geckeler Aqua-Lawn, Inc. Phone: 203-367-7444 Member Type: MA sgeckeler@aqualawn.com

VICE PRESIDENT Chris Hyson Fournier Irrigation South, LLC Phone: 860-454-5176 Member Type: MA cjhyson@yahoo.com

SECRETARY Joe Ettorre JDA Lawn Sprinklers Phone: 860-747-0455 Member Type: MA

TREASURER Edward Firgeleski, Jr. Green-Lawn Irrigation Phone: 203-371-9988 Member Type: MA efirgeleski@optonline.net

PAST PRESIDENT Dave Pijnenburg Greenacres Company Phone: 203-748-0558 Member Type: MA dave@greenacrescompany.com

Michael Fournier Fournier Irrigation Phone: 860-528-9397 Member Type: MA mike@fournierirrigation.com

Chris Graef Wetlawn Inc. Phone: 914-921-0200 Member Type: MA chris@wetlawnirrigation.com

Jack Barry Water Wizzards Irrigation LLC Phone: 860-871-1614 Member Type: MA jackbarry@waterwizardsllc.com

Mark Centola SiteOne Phone: 203-453-8945 Member Type: MB mcentola@siteone.com

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Erica Fearn, CAE Phone: 860-586-7563 efearn@cicaweb.org

IN THE NEWS

NEWSLETTER ADVERTISING & ARTICLE DEADLINESSeptember 15 December 15 March 15 June 15

CICA MEMBERSHIP BY THE NUMBERS: 2017-2018 Membership: Goal 100,

Current 105, Non renewed 4, New 24

www.facebook.com/CtIrrigation Contractors

CT Irrigation Contractors Association, Inc.

SOCIAL MEDIA

On May 11, the Anderson Turf Irrigation family lost long time employee and friend Keith Gillespie. Keith worked for Anderson Turf Irrigation as a foreman for 42 years. Keith enjoyed hanging out with his coworkers and has been a part of the CICA Memorial Scholarship Golf Tournament over the years. CICA extends its condolences to the Gillespie and Anderson Turf Irrigation family.

IA Remembers Bill Koonz Sr.The irrigation industry recently lost long-time leader and pioneer Bill Koonz Sr.

Koonz was a strong supporter of the Irrigation Association and served as president in 1993.

In 1965, Koonz and his wife Marlene became irrigation entrepreneurs by establishing Koonz Sprinkler Supply Co., a successful distributor of golf course maintenance and irrigation equipment in Springfield, New Jersey. Koonz shared his experience by authoring an early instructional book for irrigation contractors, which included everything from the basics of marketing to design and installation.

Koonz was active in the New Jersey Irrigation Association and honored with its 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award. He was also involved in numerous areas of his community and even served as mayor of Springfield.

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Facebook LinkedIn

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When considering the importance of environmental protection in the production of functional turf, careful planning in anticipation of restricted water use and drought is extremely important. Management strategies that not only conserve water but also yield a more drought tolerant turf take time and continued effort to implement.

In our Irrigation and Water Conservation Series, Dr. Scott Ebdon explains the fine points of estimating turf irrigation needs using meteorological data as determined by many years of collaborative research at the University of Massachusetts. In addition, Dr. Ebdon details best management and water conserving irrigation practices that produce a more drought hardy and higher quality turf.

http://ag.umass.edu/turf/fact-sheets/turf-irrigation-water-conservation-series

New titles in this series:

• Use of Meteorological Data to Estimate Irrigation Requirements of Recreational Turf: ET and Crop Coefficients for the Cool-Humid Region

• Drought Resistance and Efficient Irrigation for the Cool-Humid Region

Thank you,

The UMass Extension Turf Program

ag.umass.edu/turf

facebook.com/umassturf

To subscribe, visit http://ag.umass.edu/turf/email-list for instructions.

Irrigation and Water Conservation Series Now Available

A T L A N T I C I R R I G A T I O N

We have all the SMARTS you need!SPRINKLERS | NOZZLES | DRIP IRRIGATION | SENSORS | CONTROLLERS | TOOLS & MORE

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Are you ready for Smart Irrigation Month?

4 CICA APRIL 2018

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SO WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH WIFI CONTROLLERS?Remotely accessible, or as many today call “wifi” controllers, are the buzz of the industry. Never has there been such a quick change to our control industry and at least initially, is being driven by the demand of end users of irrigation controllers. Let’s look at some of the myths, facts, challenges and realities of this trend.

All of these controllers need “wifi”. This is not true. The vast majority of all of the irrigation controllers that are out there are for residential systems and most of the accessible residential controllers tend use wifi to access the controller, either directly through a receiver that is integrated into the controller or through a module that is plugged into the controller. There are many reasons why this might be the best method of communication for that application. Other types of communication include cellular, which basically uses a sim card inserted in the controller or module for communication, a hard wired / ethernet type connection (which is rare and usually only an option on older traditional central control systems). Another option is a bridge type communication technology that will have a transmitter / receiver that plugs into the router and a similar device that plugs into the controller and uses some other method to send info between those 2 points, possibly some type of RF, or Bluetooth or other format. There are advantages and disadvantages of all of these types of communication technologies, but the important thing to understand is there are alternatives to making communication happen remotely and it doesn’t necessarily require there to be wifi available at the irrigation controller.The end user wants these controllers. This is true, and interestingly, even though it may not seem apparent to us, the end user or site manager usually has a reason why they want the access to the controller. They may want this this technology to be able to micromanage the irrigation schedule even though we know, the most efficient irrigation usually occurs when irrigation controllers are allowed to water only when needed based on their information from sensors about the weather or the amount of moisture that is present in the soil. Yes, the end user may not really “need” to control these things from their phones, but it may mean that they don’t have to meet a contractor (and miss work) to service the system, or that the system will notify the contactor of a problem before it shows itself in the landscape or if they have flow sensing, the system can react to a leak and notify the service provider or they may be able to realize huge water savings with the controller receiving weather input from a weather station nearby. In most markets, the residential and commercial end users and site managers have been very vocal and clear in requesting these types of controllers. Also interesting is that especially with a lot of the residential wifi enabled controllers, many of the manufacturers that developed these products had not been involved in our industry before. This has been changing quickly but it is important for the contractor to understand and and accept this reality as they make decisions on which products to use and how they will work in their businesses.“I will just hang the controller and let the end user deal with it from there.” Initially, many contractors were installing these products and leaving it up to the end user to take it from there. Sometimes, it worked out just fine, but many times when there were problems (and many times they were communication problems), if the contractor walked away, the end user would find a contractor that was capable of servicing these types of products. In fact, many contractors are taking advantage of training opportunities on this technology from manufacturers, industry associations and providers of professional irrigation training in our industry to quickly get up to speed.There is no benefit to the contractor. The general perception for most contractors is that this is something the end user wants to be able to turn their irrigation systems on with their phones and there is no real benefit for the contractor. There are actually a whole bunch of benefits to the contractor and their business, such as:• Profitable upgrades and system renovations.• Seasonal agreements to monitor and inspect systems.• Cost reductions from avoiding “truck rolls” or running trucks to sites when you could do whatever adjustments or

monitoring remotely.• Heck, your cell phone may now be a remote control for every controller.• Additional revenue from realizing needed repairs and from the “maintenance mindset” these types of programs

create.• Additional “bonding” to end user and system for more loyalty and protection of the service account as an asset for

the contractor.As time goes on, the contractor will realize that this technology will absolutely turn out to be a game changer for their businesses and will only find more and more ways to benefit from these types of products. The technology is totally new for us and there are many of us who came into this industry with our shovels and wrenches that have had to learn many new skills in dealing with the new equipment we are using. Also, the speed that these changes have hit the industry have caught many off guard and scrambling to adapt, but we are seeing many forward- thinking contractors embrace this technology and also embrace what this can mean for how their business operates, its profitability and its value.Chris Pine, CLWM, CID, CIC, CLIA, CIT, MCLP is a principal of www.BluGreenSolutions.com , a manufacturers’ rep group and www.IrriTechTraining.com , a professional online and in-person training resource for the irrigation industry.

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GOV. MALLOY SIGNS ORDER IMPLEMENTING THE STATE WATER PLANREAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO WATER AS A PUBLIC TRUST

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Dannel P. Malloy today signed an executive order directing the state’s Water Planning Council (WPC) to immediately implement the State Water Plan that was submitted to the Connecticut General Assembly in January 2018.The plan, which was ordered by the General Assembly through Public Act 14-163, was developed by the WPC to balance the needs of public water supply, economic development, recreation, and ecological health. It was completed through an exhaustive and transparent process that included an extended period of public comment from all stakeholders. The plan required legislative review and approval, but the legislative session ended without action from the General Assembly.A major point of contention for some legislators was a provision in the State Water Plan’s executive summary that declares water a public trust – a declaration of public policy that has been enshrined in state statute for more than 40 years. The Governor’s executive order recommits to the definition of water as a public trust.“The State Water Plan is a critically important initiative that puts the needs of Connecticut families ahead of the commercial interests of private water utility companies and big businesses,” Governor Malloy said. “We should all be able to agree that water is a precious resource that should be protected for the public’s interest and safeguarded for future generations in the event of emergencies. Today’s executive order does just that, ensuring that we waste no time safeguarding our clean water supply.”In addition to implementing the State Water Plan, the executive order takes the following actions:Directs the WPC to coordinate and work with the advisory group established pursuant to Section 25-33o(c) to help implement the State Water Plan.Orders the WPC to resubmit the State Water Plan to the General Assembly for its review and approval by December 1.“Connecticut’s water resources are among the purest and most well protected in the nation, and the State Water Plan ensures that this public trust resource will be wisely stewarded for future generations,” Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Rob Klee said. “This plan, developed through a consensus-based stakeholder process, provides the data and guidance needed for our state to make informed choices in managing this precious resource.”“The preservation, management and use of water is critical to Connecticut’s future,” Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Raul Pino said. “I thank the Governor for championing this important, multi-year plan that is designed to ensure a balanced use of this most precious natural resource, and we look forward to working with the administration, the legislature and the other members of the Water Planning Council to enact the State Water Plan.”“Public Trust is a policy that recognizes the public’s inherent right to clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment,” Alicea Charamut of Connecticut River Conservancy said. “Here in Connecticut, we are fortunate to have this public trust policy solidified in statute – a statute that has been in place for 40 years. But those who profit from our water resources consider this policy a threat to their bottom line and seek to undermine its principal. They claim its inclusion in Connecticut’s State Water Plan as it currently resides will introduce uncertainty and confusion. To the contrary, honoring Connecticut’s public trust policy will ensure that we have clean and adequate water for public health, the environment, recreation and the economy for generations to come.”

Current Drought Status Drought is not affecting the population of

Connecticut according to the US Drought

Monitor on June 19, 2018.

Author: Brian Fuchs, National Drought Mitigation Center

http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu

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A RECEIVES “BEST MANUFACTURING ASSOCIATION TO WORK FOR” RECOGNITION Irrigation Technology Tuesday is set for July 10.FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA (June 13, 2018) — The Irrigation Association is pleased to announce that it has been named a “2018 Best Manufacturing Association to Work for” by the National Association of Manufacturers’ Council of Manufacturing Associations. The IA received this award based on its workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems and demographics, along with a measurement of the employee experience.“I am thrilled that the IA received this prestigious honor,” IA CEO Deborah M. Hamlin, CAE, FASAE, said. “The true recognition goes to our staff members, who not only work tirelessly to achieve our mission, but also have fun while doing it.”In its inaugural year, this program was designed to identify, recognize and honor the best employers among manufacturing associations, including those benefiting the industry’s economy, workforce and businesses. The IA was one of 10 national manufacturing associations recognized in 2018.“The NAM is proud to recognize and congratulate these outstanding associations for building exemplary work environments,” NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons said. “Manufacturing is about people, and that is just as true on the shop floor as it is in our associations and advocacy work. We’re dedicated to helping all of our CMA members identify best practices and learn from each other. Celebrating the best of the best helps all of us succeed.”The IA, along with the other winners, will be recognized in August 2018 during the CMA Summer Leadership Conference in Chicago.For more information on the “Best Manufacturing Associations to Work faor” program, visit www.bestplacestoworkmfgassoc.com or contact Tonya Muse, executive director, Council of Manufacturing Associations, at 202.637.3130 or tmuse@nam.org.

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CONNECTICUT IRRIGATION CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION59 Rainbow Road East Granby, CT 06026. 860-586-7563 www.CICAweb.org

2018 CALENDARJULY 12 Board of Directors Meeting,

Wallingford

JULY 17 UConn Turfgrass Field Day, register online at https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx-?EventID=2162484

JULY 29 Family Day at Lake Compounce

SEPT 20 Memorial Golf Tournament, Lyman’s Orchard

SEPT 29 J3 & J4 Class, Eli’s on Whitney, Hamden

NOV 7 Annual Meeting

DEC 14 J3 Make up class & J4 Class, Eli’s on Whitney, Hamden

DEC 14 Board of Directors Meeting, Eli’s on Whitney, Hamden