Designating July as Smart Irrigation Month

DESIGNATING JULY AS SMART IRRIGATION MONTH -- (Extensions of Remarks - June 08, 2006)

* Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join with the Irrigation Association in designating July as Smart Irrigation Month.

* Since 1949, the Irrigation Association has been charged with and has been successful in leading the advancement of water-use efficiencies to create smarter solutions for agricultural, residential and commercial landscape irrigation. The Irrigation Association is dedicated to developing the irrigation industry and effectively utilizing our most vital resource.

* With such charge in mind, the Irrigation Association has named July Smart Irrigation Month to raise awareness about the importance of using efficient watering practices, technologically advanced irrigation products and water conservation. In addition, Smart Irrigation Month is a great opportunity to educate constituents and consumers, including homeowners, garden clubs, growers and farm irrigation managers, with valuable watersaving irrigation information, products and services.

* Additionally, Smart Irrigation Month serves to recognize advances in irrigation technology and practices that produce not only more but also higher quality plants with less water. Given that July is a peak month for the use of water irrigation; this designation also stands to encourage the adoption of smart irrigation for substantial water savings. Consequently appropriate irrigation technology combined with efficient practices can significantly reduce water usage and runoff while creating healthy lawns, landscaping, sports turf and increasing agricultural production.

* Water is a finite resource that is essential in the advancement of agriculture, and is vital to human life. Smart Irrigation Month will showcase the importance of smart irrigation practices to the health and well being of communities and individuals. I would like to commend the Irrigation Association for its continued promotion and advancement of efficient water and irrigation use and therefore ask that you join me, together with the Irrigation Association, in designating July as Smart Irrigation Month to be recognized annually from July 2006 forward. Water is the lifeblood of resources that gives sustenance to life. We must wisely use this resource for the future of mankind. Therefore, smart irrigation technologies allows us to do just that.

http://thomas.loc.gov/