Post on 16-Jan-2016
San Antonio Botanical San Antonio Botanical Gardens Irrigation Gardens Irrigation
SystemSystem
Team:Team:Lindsay BirtLindsay BirtEric FisherEric FisherLisa PortaLisa Porta
Design ProjectDesign Project
Presented by:Presented by:• Calvin Finch, SAWSCalvin Finch, SAWS• Paul Cox, City of San AntonioPaul Cox, City of San Antonio
Initial Problem Statement:Initial Problem Statement:““Redesign and expand the current irrigationRedesign and expand the current irrigationsystem in order to increase the efficiency system in order to increase the efficiency
with minimum impact on the beds and plant material with minimum impact on the beds and plant material
and consider the conservation of water.”and consider the conservation of water.” Other teams involvedOther teams involved
DOQQ Picture from San DOQQ Picture from San Antonio Antonio
Garden
General Description of the GardenGeneral Description of the Garden
Surface area of 33 acresSurface area of 33 acres BreakdownBreakdown
““Native area”Native area”• With a 1 acre artificial lakeWith a 1 acre artificial lake
Flower BedsFlower Beds ConservatoryConservatory
Constraints on the Irrigation Constraints on the Irrigation SystemSystem
Low maintenanceLow maintenance Water conservation efficientWater conservation efficient Safe layout (open to the public)Safe layout (open to the public) Moderate cost Moderate cost Existing walkways and other constructionsExisting walkways and other constructions
Water Conservation IssuesWater Conservation Issues
Water supplied from Edwards Aquifer Water supplied from Edwards Aquifer City Water regulationsCity Water regulations Impact on irrigation system designImpact on irrigation system design
Outline of ProceduresOutline of Procedures Site Visit ObservationsSite Visit Observations
• Current irrigation systemsCurrent irrigation systems• Water conservationWater conservation
New problem statementNew problem statement Research and resultsResearch and results
• New irrigation systemNew irrigation system• Management of water consumptionManagement of water consumption
Solutions consideredSolutions considered Plan of actionPlan of action
Site Visit ObservationsSite Visit Observations
Current Irrigation Systems in beds:Current Irrigation Systems in beds: Poor condition Poor condition No existing blueprint No existing blueprint Major leaks – not detected soon enough, Major leaks – not detected soon enough,
causes plant decaycauses plant decay Mixture of different equipment in same plant Mixture of different equipment in same plant
bedbed Hand watered bedsHand watered beds
Irrigation SystemsIrrigation Systems
Formal Garden Japanese Gardens
Irrigation SystemsIrrigation Systems
Formal GardenGarden for the Blind
Site Visit ObservationsSite Visit Observations
Water problems:Water problems: Water loss due to leaks in irrigation systemWater loss due to leaks in irrigation system Four inch meter supplies the six gardensFour inch meter supplies the six gardens
• Same meter provides filling water to the lakeSame meter provides filling water to the lake Water leakage near the greenhouseWater leakage near the greenhouse Water flow into storm sewerWater flow into storm sewer
Impossible to measure water used for Impossible to measure water used for irrigationirrigation
Garden hose filling the lakeGarden hose filling the lake
Water leaks near the GreenhousesWater leaks near the Greenhouses
Aerial Picture from Gardens in Aerial Picture from Gardens in 20002000
Leak
Reconsideration of Design ScopeReconsideration of Design Scope
Untouched areasUntouched areas Native area is left natural (need no irrigation)Native area is left natural (need no irrigation) Conservatory has a fairly new systemConservatory has a fairly new system
New irrigation system will be designed New irrigation system will be designed old one will be discardedold one will be discarded
Water conservation issue as a separate Water conservation issue as a separate problemproblem
Break down the system into 6 partsBreak down the system into 6 parts
Japanese GardenJapanese Garden Garden for the BlindGarden for the Blind Rose GardenRose Garden Sacred GardenSacred Garden Old-Fashioned GardenOld-Fashioned Garden Formal BedsFormal Beds
Garden LayoutGarden Layout
Rose garden
Sacred Garden
Old-fashioned Garden
Formal Garden
Japanese GardenJapanese Garden
•Roughly 75’ by 82’
•Reflection Pool
•Hut
•Extreme Topography Changes
Garden for the BlindGarden for the Blind
•Distinctive texture and fragrances
•Raised beds
•Fountain
Sacred GardenSacred Garden
•Plants found in Bible
•Fountain
Formal BedsFormal Beds
•Very Seasonal
Old-fashioned GardenOld-fashioned Garden
•Huge tree in middle
•Various height of shrubs
Rose GardenRose Garden
•Example of special plant needs
Garden LayoutGarden Layout
Different sections with different needs.Different sections with different needs. Plant NeedsPlant Needs Soil TypesSoil Types
Garden SpecificsGarden Specifics TreesTrees PathsPaths Foliage HeightsFoliage Heights
Water Consumption for 4 inch Water Consumption for 4 inch meter in 2003meter in 2003
Water Consumption at the San Antonio Botanical Gardens 2003-The Garden Center
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000
16000
18000
20000
Nov.-Dec.
Oct.-Nov.
Sep.-Oct.
Aug.-Sep.
Jul.-Aug.
Jun. -Jul.
May -Jun.
Apr.-May
Mar. -Apr.
Feb.-Mar.
Jan.-Feb.
Dec. -Jan.
Nov.-Dec.
Time (months)
Wat
er C
on
sum
pti
on
(G
allo
ns)
Nov.-Dec.
Oct.-Nov.
Sep.-Oct.
Aug.-Sep.
Jul.- Aug.
Jun. -Jul.
May -Jun.
Apr.- May
Mar. -Apr.
Feb.- Mar.
Jan.- Feb.
Dec. -Jan.
Nov.-Dec.
Water LossesWater Losses
Evaporation of the lakeEvaporation of the lake 1.07 million gallons per year1.07 million gallons per year
Lake on higher elevation, so loses water Lake on higher elevation, so loses water through runoffthrough runoff
Water leakage near the greenhouse Water leakage near the greenhouse
(1 gal/min)(1 gal/min) 518,400 gal/year518,400 gal/year
Irrigation runoffIrrigation runoff
How to save water ?How to save water ?
Repair leaks by installing a new systemRepair leaks by installing a new system Equipment used to save water in the Equipment used to save water in the
irrigation system: irrigation system: Master valvesMaster valves Check valvesCheck valves
Repair major line burst next to the Repair major line burst next to the greenhousesgreenhouses
Put a separate meter on lake fillingPut a separate meter on lake filling Irrigation restriction to certain hoursIrrigation restriction to certain hours
Water Conservation SolutionsWater Conservation Solutions
1.1. Water recycle Water recycle
2.2. Storm water recaptureStorm water recapture
3.3. Rainfall water recaptureRainfall water recapture
4.4. Irrigation runoff recaptureIrrigation runoff recapture
Water RecyclingWater Recycling
Advantages:Advantages: Recycling program already in place in San Recycling program already in place in San
AntonioAntonio Good use of city water suppliedGood use of city water supplied
Disadvantages:Disadvantages: High salt concentration of water and poor High salt concentration of water and poor
toleration by plantstoleration by plants ExpensiveExpensive
Storm Water RecaptureStorm Water Recapture
Advantages:Advantages: Captures surplus waterCaptures surplus water
Disadvantages:Disadvantages: Facility needs to be attached to main city Facility needs to be attached to main city
recapture systemrecapture system Garden is not close to itGarden is not close to it
Rainfall Water RecaptureRainfall Water Recapture
Advantages:Advantages: On site facilityOn site facility Estimation from greenhouse roofs recapture: Estimation from greenhouse roofs recapture:
269,299 gal/year269,299 gal/year
Disadvantages:Disadvantages: Not enough water recapturedNot enough water recaptured Need a system to pump water uphill to other facilitiesNeed a system to pump water uphill to other facilities
Alternative use:Alternative use: Supply greenhousesSupply greenhouses
Importance of designImportance of design
Performance of the irrigation systemPerformance of the irrigation system Optimization of system for each plant bedOptimization of system for each plant bed Even distribution of water in plant bedsEven distribution of water in plant beds Radio controlled/ remote controlled systemRadio controlled/ remote controlled system SchedulingScheduling Remove water leaksRemove water leaks More water available for the plantsMore water available for the plants Keep track of water consumptionKeep track of water consumption
Data to be Collected Data to be Collected
Plant surveyPlant survey Dimensional AnalysisDimensional Analysis Elevation of the terrain with GPS systemElevation of the terrain with GPS system Environmental conditionsEnvironmental conditions
Next Steps ConsideredNext Steps Considered
Site VisitSite Visit Horticulture DepartmentHorticulture Department Visit Houston Botanical GardensVisit Houston Botanical Gardens RainCAD simulation RainCAD simulation SchedulingScheduling Solicit sponsorsSolicit sponsors Garden showcaseGarden showcase