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NEWS FLOW
Irrigation Association of New York
www.iany.org
November 2014
Volume 14, Issue 3
IANY Testifies Before LICAP
Acting on behalf of IANY, President Tom Tracey testified before the Long Island Commission on Aquifer Protection, on Sep. 15.
LICAP was created in 2013 by the legislatures of Nassau and Suffolk counties to address the absence of a central governing body
to monitor Long Island’s water supply.
Tracey expressed IANY’s concern with protecting Long Island’s aquifers, and began by
stating, “If it came between drinking water and irrigation, of course we would choose
drinking water.”
He maintained that irrigation systems are vital in preserving our suburban way of life.
Aside from the aesthetic value of green spaces, Tracey testified that suburban landscaping cools the environment, removes carbon dioxide and produces oxygen.
“Properly installed irrigation systems,” Tracey said, “help maintain a healthy lawn and
reduce the amounts of pesticides, fungicides and herbicides that pollute our ground water.”
He noted that IANY promotes the efficient use of precious water resources, and recommended products that can be utilized to
maintain healthy landscapes without wasting water. Among them:
• Rain sensors and moisture sensors that interrupt watering after adequate rainfall.
• Drip irrigation systems that deliver the water right to a plant’s roots.
• Smart irrigation controllers that automatically adjust the watering schedules based upon prevailing weather.
Tracey cited the association’s work with state legislators and the Department of Environmental Conservation to enact legislation
requiring irrigation contractors be certified to install and service efficient irrigation systems. He also advocated adherence to standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense program and the national Irrigation Association.
Tracey said certification had multiple benefits, such as:
• Protecting the consumer by setting standards for installations, where now there are none
• Protecting the safety of the water supply through the use of proper backflow-prevention devices
• Conserving water by using best management procedures to irrigate wisely
“The Irrigation Association of New York stands ready to work with this commission, the water purveyors and the DEC to develop regulations to promote conservation,” he concluded.
LICAP’s nine-member panel represents each county as well as the Suffolk County Water Authority, the Nassau-Suffolk Water
Commissioners Association and the Long Island Water Conference.
Do Rain Sensors Work?
General Membership Meeting
You bet they do!
Wednesday, December 3, 2014, 6:30 p.m.
Bonwit Inn
1 Vanderbilt Motor Parkway
Commack, N.Y.
631-499-2068
Watch for IANY’s “Rain Sensors Work”
initiative, a multimedia public relations
outreach program targeting the public, news
media and public officials. Coming in 2015.
Officers
President
Tom Tracey, CID, CIC, CLIA
Dimension II Associates
6 Stepar Pl., Huntington Station, N.Y. 11746
631-421-5200
Vice President
RB Boyle
RB Irrigation
P.O. Box 1386, Westhampton Beach, N.Y. 11978
631-288-1087
Treasurer
Joe Tavalaro, CIC, CLIA
Custom Irrigation Corp.
111 Roger Ave., Inwood, N.Y. 11096
516-239-7659
Secretary
Adam Cantiello, CIC
Oasis Irrigation
P.O. Box 423, Oakdale, N.Y. 11769
631-585-1501
Trustees
Robert Boyle, RB Irrigation
Mike Dwyer, Hot Water Aplenty
Al Helinski, CIC, CLIA, Ski Sprinklers
David C. Lambert, Sprinkl-Rite Irrigation
Dennis Realmuto, CID, CIC, CLIA, Professional Irrigation
Frank Realmuto, P.I. Services
Rich Silverman, CIC, Rain Rich Sprinklers
Bobby Winter, B&A Lawn Sprinklers
Past Presidents
Jan Oberfield, Dimension II Associates
Marty Klein, RB Irrigation
Geoff Lambert, Sprinkl-Rite Irrigation
Rich Silverman, CIC, Rain Rich Sprinklers
Dennis Realmuto, CID, CIC, CLIA, Professional Irrigation
Publisher
Frank Realmuto
P.I. Services
631-243-6016
[email protected]
Editor
Barry Zusman
631-367-6268
Irrigation Association of New York
P.O. Box 237, Greenlawn, N.Y. 11740
Telephone/facsimile: 631-423-0429
www.iany.org
Copyright 2014 IANY
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Landscape Irrigation Auditing Class and Exam 2014
By Rich Silverman, CIC
On October 8-9, IANY sponsored the CLIA class and exam held at Storr Tractor Inc. in
Ronkonkoma, N.Y. Eighteen irrigation contractors and employees from Long Island and New York
state attended. We had a nice turnout for an end-of-season class, and the participants seemed to
enjoy the break of working outside after a long season. It was an opportunity to take the practical
part of installing and servicing irrigation systems and actually quantify the work.
Our veteran instructor was Chris Pine, of Chris Pine & Associates, who has taught this class and
other IA classes for many years. Pine took a lot of material and made it easy for everyone to understand. He was very patient
and willing to work the formulas for us as needed.
For many, it was an intense 1 1/2 days of learning, as we crammed for the exam that was to follow. The three-hour test was
given the following afternoon, and nine people sat for the entire three hours to answer the 125 questions.
We all do audits in one fashion or another and learning the proper way is the best way to distance yourself from your competition. This course was originally developed by the Irrigation Training and Research Center at California Polytechnic State
University at San Luis Obispo. The techniques developed here are meant to save water by reducing watering time and exposing
flaws in the irrigation design and coverage. Analysis of how water is applied and performance of sprinkler systems can reduce
the run times and frequency saving thousands of gallons of water, nutrients and money.
Some of the techniques taught to conduct proper analysis include actually going outside and performing a catch-device test and
evaluating pressure, head spacing and run time. There is a specific procedure to apply for auditing at every level and many formulas to learn such as distribution of uniformity, precipitation rates, optimal pressure and several worksheets to record data.
This was just the sprinkler side of the audit!
We were then educated about soils. Different soils retain different amounts of water and make water available in varying
amounts. A soil probe was used to examine the soil and determine its water-holding capacity. We were then instructed about
runoff, percolation and infiltration and connected these to types of plants being watered. Plants have different requirements
such as turf vs. trees vs. flowers vs. groundcover vs. shrubs. Connecting sprinkler equipment, sprinkler application, sprinkler
performance, soil type and plant type and creating a schedule of watering can be a daunting task and should be required in
order to save our precious resource.
Many of us who took these two days to learn really appreciated the knowledge and will find it useful
and applicable in our businesses. One gentleman in the class was from a major water company and he
was impressed that our industry had this understanding and knowledge of applying the correct amount
of water.
Many thanks to Gary Lynott of Storr Tractor for coordinating scheduling of this important class and providing the space and the use of his facility for the irrigation audits. Look for future classes to be held
this winter. Further information will be available at www.IANY.org.
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IANY Golf Outing Brings Sunshine, Camaraderie and Funding
By Tom Tracey, CID, CIC, CLIA
As IANY president, I thank all of you who supported the association at our recent golf outing – our 12th
annual. The outing is our biggest fundraising event of the year, and is critical to the work we do as an
association. Without the support of all of our sponsors and all who attend, we would cease to exist.
The volunteer board members of IANY put in many hours of their time and their money throughout the
year to help our industry. We do this because of our commitment to the business that supports our lives, our families and the families of our employees. We know that we need someone to look out for our interests and work for the betterment of our industry.
We cannot do it alone.
I believe that the irrigation industry provides a valuable service to our community. I believe that we are also the stewards of a
precious natural resource. With water issues making headlines these days, we cannot afford to have legislators vote us out of business. We have to get our message across to the decision makers that we are very concerned about the sustainability of our water
sources. We need to have a united voice as we continue to work with our state and local legislators, the state’s Department of
Environmental Conservation and local water purveyors, to insure we can all work together for everyone’s benefit.
To this end, I say again, thank you to all our sponsors, big and small, and to the golfers who attended and to all of you who continue to support the mission of the IANY.
Facebook Advertising for Small Business
By Jeff Carowitz
Many small-business owners have discovered the benefits of on-line advertising to reach new customers. If you have mastered pay-per-click advertising and are looking for other venues to promote your
small business on-line, consider a targeted advertising program on Facebook.
Like pay-per-click, it’s easy to make mistakes in configuring a Facebook ad program. The better you set
up your campaign, the more likely you will generate a base of truly interested buyers. Otherwise you can quickly run through
your budget without generating sales. Consider these tips:
• Pinpoint The Audience for Your Ads: Facebook ads are most effective when targeted to very specific audiences (e.g. people who
are interested in “lawn sprinklers” or “landscaping”). It’s up to you to decide who you want to see your advertising. Facebook
lets you choose variables like geographic location, the user’s recent searches and their interests (based on their participation in
groups and other “likes”).
Get into the minds of your target buyers: What do they read? What neighborhoods do they live in? What causes do they support?
What news sources do they pay attention to? What brands do they follow or love? Brainstorm a list of things your audience may
have already “liked” on Facebook. Based on the target information you enter, Facebook will estimate the size of your potential
audience.
• Develop a Winning Ad: What should you put in your ad? Drive action toward a specific purchase. Just getting more clicks
through to your page is not enough. You can offer coupons, discounts or promote specific events. Avoid lotteries and prizes in
your ads. There are many users who “like” any page for a chance to win something for nothing. Raffle participants are seldom
buyers.
• Choose the Right Ad Type: Facebook ads target viewers in a comfortable setting that they visit often. Standard marketplace
ads run in the right column of the page and include a headline, a small image and a short amount of text. These are common and
proven effective. A newer ad type, called a Page Post, runs in the user’s news feed. These have the benefit of being right where
potential buyers are looking.
• Start Small and Budget Wisely: Run ads in short bursts during critical selling times when your audience is most motivated.
(Brown or weedy lawns are real motivators!) Ads that run too long lose their appeal when they’re repeated over and over again.
Budget about 50 cents per click. Always start with a realistic trial campaign that is well-designed and runs for a defined period,
so you can judge your potential results with a broader effort.
Start experimenting with Facebook’s ad tools to grow your company’s presence in social media.
Jeff Carowitz leads a marketing agency focused on the landscape industry. His website is www.StrategicForceMarketing.com
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Cooperation in Roslyn Water District Helps Maintain System
Richard Passariello
Richard Passariello became concerned while reading a water-quality report in August of 2013. As superintendent of the Roslyn Water District, he was concerned that one of its eight wells was showing an elevated level of Freon-22. Even though the concentration was within drinking-water standards, monitoring frequency was increased. And as a precaution, the district voluntarily removed the well from service that autumn to seek remediation.
Timing was awkward, as a second well was out because of a different contaminant, and a third well was suspect.
Looking ahead to 2014, Passariello’s apprehension increased. The Roslyn Water District serves a number of affluent communities, such as the villages of Roslyn, Roslyn Estates, Roslyn Harbor and East Hills, along with some unincorporated areas of
Roslyn Heights, Greenvale, Albertson, Glenwood and Port Washington. In the district’s service area, a majority of homeowners
have automatic irrigation systems, most of which are active between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.
Even with periodic upgrades, the district’s system, originally designed in 1910, was not intended for same-time irrigation turn on.
While Nassau County already had odd/even restrictions in place, those were not considered adequate to keep pressure up with
two wells down.
So who ya gonna call? Certainly not “Ghostbusters.” How about the irrigation contractors serving the district?
Passariello tapped long-time district colleague Mike Hahn to serve as liaison. The district sent letters to more than 100 contractors who had installed systems, informing them of new guidelines, and Hahn personally reached out to dozens who had a high
presence in the district.
The request was straight-forward: when doing spring turn-ons, reduce the amount of daily
watering time, and stagger system activation times. The load-balancing plan outlined different
times by village, and whether the water customer was residential, commercial or municipal.
New guidelines also were conveyed directly to customers by mailings and on the district’s
website. Local mayors also sent out letters.
By April 2014, compliance was obvious. Water distribution was being spread across greater
timeframes, thus maintaining both water pressure and quality, and allowing time for treatment
facilities to be designed and their installation to begin. Although the contamination source
Mike Hahn
remains under investigation by the state’s Department of Environmental Protection, the 2014 irrigation season was a success,
helped in part by a cooperative Mother Nature.
“Cooperation among irrigation contractors, customers and elected public officials was gratifying,” says Passariello. “Not having
peak demand at the same time is a great advantage, even during the best of times.”
East Coast Sprinkler Supply, Inc.
941 S. 2nd Street, Ronkonkoma, New York 11779
Phone 631-737-5656 Fax 631-737-4057
Dave Rochelle Tom Novak John (JJ) O’Hara Billy Traina
1044 Merrick Road, Baldwin, New York 11510
Phone 516-223-3660 Fax 516-223-0942
Joe Santacroce Chris Beck Patrick Anderson
Sue Carman
Lewis Okin Alex Okin
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Through the Lens
12th Annual IANY Golf Outing
Chairman Dennis Welcomes
Step 1, Retrieve Clubs
Thank You Sponsors
Sign Shlepper
Sign ‘Em In
Tom, Tom on the range
Brett, Rich, Mark
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Through the Lens
12th Annual IANY Golf Outing
Amane, Mike, Brian,
Steve, Mike
Chris, Danny, Dennis, Harry
Marty, ‘RB’, Jim, Patti
Mike, Tom, Craig, Randy
Tom, Jamie, Ross
Tom, Sean, Joe, Vinnie
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2014 GOLF OUTING SUPERLATIVES AND THANK YOU’S
• Longest drive – Tom Decavacanti
• Closest to the pin on #3 – Adam Cantiello
• Closest to the pin on #8 – Mike Edmiston
• Closest to the pin on # 13 – Dan Mormando
• Closest to the pin on # 15 – Jeff Lawler
• Winning Scramble Team – AGC Irrigation Supply (- 8)
BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB
THANKS
TO OUR WONDERFUL SPONSORS
WHO HELPED MAKE THE EVENT POSSIBLE
AGC IRRIGATION SUPPLY
CENTRAL TURF & IRRIGATION SUPPLY
HUNTER INDUSTRIES
K-RAIN
PLATINUM
CAMILLE
BRONZE
BUNICCI, FARM FAMILY INSURANCE COMPANIES
EAST COAST SPRINKLER SUPPLY
NORTH SHORE SPRINKLER SUPPLY
JOSEPH P. O'BRIEN AGENCY
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New York Mets 4, Washington Nationals 3: IANY the Winner
Four-to-three was the final score as the New York Mets snapped a 12 home-game losing streak against the Washington Nationals
in honor of IANY’s presence at Citi Field.
On a perfect late summer evening, Sep. 12, the Mets seized a three-run lead in the first inning and never looked back, as IANY
members, employees, family and friends sat along the third-base line, enjoying cold beer, hot dogs and peanuts, most adorned in
their newly acquired, bright orange “Los Mets” tee shirts. (It was Hispanic tee-shirt night.)
Please take note, IANY is scheduling a return trip to Citi Field, Friday, Sep. 18, 2015, as the New York Mets take on the New
York Yankees. If you are interested in attending this game, please contact Dennis Realmuto, at [email protected] before
Dec. 4. Ticket cost is $75; additional information will be forthcoming.
jpo
Insurance
INSURANCE
FOR THE IRRIGATION INDUSTRY
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What is the Greatest Thing an Individual Can Do in Life?
By Robert “RB” Boyle
Help others! There is nothing more rewarding than giving of yourself to help someone else. The dividends
that come from helping others are too numerous and intangible to list.
The definition of help is to provide the means for what is needed or sought; to assist or give support; and
to be of use or service to others. When you help someone, you grow as an individual, and when you grow
as an individual everything connected to you grows as well.
A great example is in your own business; you help clients to get sprinkler systems that help them care for their lawn, plants and
property. You help employees (through training) to become better technicians; in return they help your company and themselves.
The Irrigation Association of New York needs your help to make our industry better for us all. A strong and healthy industry will
help us to have strong and healthy companies. Showing your commitment by joining or renewing your membership will help our
industry.
As an IANY member, you are an integral part of professional efforts to promote efficient irrigation through products, technologies and service. The association is made up of hard-working individuals who comprise all aspects of our industry, working to
ensure that water is available for irrigation in the future.
Here are some of the ways IANY membership helps you:
• by working to help you stay ahead of your competitors
• by working to serve your needs as an irrigation contractor
• by working to gather business knowledge and industry insights from peer interactions
• by advocating for legislation and standards that benefit the irrigation industry
• by helping shape the industry’s public image
The IANY’s mission statement is “Promoting conservation through efficient irrigation practices.”
Help us to help you and we all will benefit. We hope you will proudly embrace our commitment to help our industry. All of this
affects the way we make a living in this industry. Education and collaboration among us are the keys for keeping our industry
protected and strong, and ensuring it helps our businesses and families in the future.
Join IANY and learn how you can help make this a better industry for us all!
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Join Us
Become a member of the Irrigation Association of New York
Membership Benefits
•
• Educational Classes
• A Voice for Irrigation Contractors
• Lobbying Efforts on YOUR Behalf
• Fair Insurance Pricing
Working With Different Agencies to Benefit Our Industry
Name ___________________________________________________________
Company ________________________________________________________
Address _________________________________________________________
City _____________________________ State ____________ Zip ___________
Phone ___________________________ Fax ____________________________
E-mail ___________________________
I have the following certifications:
!
!
!
!
Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor
Certified Irrigation Contractor
Certified Irrigation Designer
Other _________________________
Yearly Dues: $150
To use PayPal, click on “Submit Payment” at www.IANY.org, or
Mail your completed form and check payable to
“Irrigation Association of New York” to:
Irrigation Association of New York
Post Office Box 237
Greenlawn, New York 11740
Phone/fax: 631-423-0429
[email protected]
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NEWS FLOW
Accepts
As a convenience, IANY now uses PayPal to accept payments.
Dues • Education Classes • Golf Outing • Advertising
Now made simpler!
Just click the “Submit Payment” button
at www.IANY.org
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