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

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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.

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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