N ot all that many years ago, the irrigation industry, as we know it today, did not exist. For all intents and purposes the irrigation industry evolved over the last 40 years. Despite many obstacles, we who participate in this industry should be pleased with the progress we have made in such a short period of time.

We appreciate the contributions of those early pioneers, people like the Buckners, Thompsons, La Fetras and the Moodys, as well as the dynamic salesmen, such as Jack Nees, Bob Harper and King Ewing; people who sped our evolution along with hard work and imagination. Because of dwindling water resources and the skyrocketing costs of irrigation systems, our industry in confronted with new challenges. Challenges that should spawn pioneers and new leaders.

In the late 1940s and early 1950s, a sprinkler system was considered a luxury and the demand was not very great. Supplies were bought through plumbing supply houses and most of the contractors were unskilled. Manual control was the rule, cast iron pipe was tarred and wrapped before installing, copper pipe was also used.

Toro was Moist-O-Matic and guys named Ed Hunter and Glenn Pratt were not only the manufacturer but also the salesmen. Ace Smith was selling plumbing supplies and Bennet was selling water heaters. A ten percent discount was considered good.

We were not very sophisticated in those days, but things started to change in the 1950s and 1960s with the tremendous population explosion and subsequent housing boom. This brought about the need for landscaping the rapidly growing number of parks, schools, streets and houses. Irrigation became a necessity rather than a luxury, and manufacturers rallied in developing products. The plumbing supply houses gave way to the specialty irrigation supply houses. Contractors emerged with a great deal of enthusiasm and imagination regarding installation techniques.

The early days were characterized by a great deal of trial and error. Most of the labor force was made up of plumbers, steamfitters and unskilled workers. Many unproven products were used. We quickly learned how to improve and utilize new products. The evidence of our achievements is today's sound and prosperous industry. For the most part, the longevity and reliability of irrigation systems have been tremendously increased. Irrigation systems have also come to enjoy a special status as one of the few items to give the consumer a return on his investment.

If our industry has become diversified and specialized, it is because today's projects require a great deal more engineering than those of the past. It is not uncommon to have systems costing between $40,000 and $50,000 per acre. Such a system may be designed in one year and completed four or five years later. Today's systems involve sophisticated electronics, pumping facilities, filtration and may other components that require considerable skill to create, install and operate. All too often, a system is conceived by a designer, modified by the contractor and altered further by the maintenance personnel at it is installed.

The major factors limiting
our industry today are
not technology or ability,
but poor design and
lack of consumer education.

Our primary function is to develop a mechanical device to convey the minimum amount of water necessary to insure plant growth, at the most economical price. We have the technology and the ability to render this service. The major factors limiting our industry today are not technology or ability, but poor design and lack of consumer education. Technological advancements are of little consequence without proper utilization of equipment once it is installed. It does little good to develop a highly sophisticated and efficient if the consumer does not utilize it to the fullest.

For this reason, the success of the industry today and in the future depends heavily on manufacturers' representatives. They must strive to acquire a working knowledge of the overall requirements in establishing a particular irrigation system. More than anyone else, they have an opportunity to discuss these requirements with the consumer. All too often such discussions are omitted, and consequently the consumer is uniformed and does not have the necessary information to make an intelligent decision. A continuing effort to educate the consumer regarding proper operation is essential. In some cases, it has been found that over 50 percent of the water applied goes for no useful purpose. It either runs down the streets, evaporates or is wasted due to overpercolation beyond the root zone; in other words, overwatering. This is most prevalent in arid areas where good infiltration rates exist and for some reason the consumer feels he hasn't watered enough until he sees puddles.

The chronic water shortage is going to force us to recognize these problems and concentrate our efforts to increase efficiency. Only two gallons of fresh water daily are required to quench our thirst and cook the food we eat. However, it takes more than a thousand gallons of water to grow the food and hundreds of thousands of gallons more to keep us clean, to operate our home appliances, to flush away our waste and to water our lawns. Due to ever-increasing population, pollution and a disregard for efficient water use, we are quickly running out of this precious commodity.

Even though droughts throughout the country focused attention of this problem, we should not confuse the issues of drought with water shortages. A drought comes and goes, but the water shortage will stay with us, unless things change drastically. The time to confront this issue is now, for without water we will all be out of a job.

For many years, inexpensive water has been taken for granted. The shortage and high cost of producing and delivering water has increased the cost in may areas to over $350 per acre foot. It wasn't that many years ago that water could be purchased for $50 per acre foot. There are solutions, one is to use reclaimed water in irrigation, This notion is gaining in popularity and a number of water districts are doing so. Another solution is desalinization of the ocean. Some countries in the Middle East are using it effectively, although quite expensive.

A tremendous amount of water can be saved if only we can curb waste. Maybe our direction in the future will be to devise reliable systems that will be controlled through the moisture content of the soil. Field controllers will have programs that are overridden by the moisture sensing equipment.

We must endeavor to curb the runaway cost of systems. With the increasing cost of operating and maintaining the systems, and replacing broken parts, the growing cost of water and the looming prospect of shortages, it is our responsibility to design the most economical system possible. We can't forget the main objective confronting us: to provide a mechanical device that will convey water to insure plant growth, using the minimum amount of water possible and at the lowest price. If we fail to do so, we will not be able to look back at our accomplishments with the same satisfaction as we have in the past.