From April 23–25, the American Society of Irrigation Consultants (ASIC) hosted its annual national conference, attended by many of the most influential partners in golf and landscape irrigation design. Rain Bird was a gold sponsor of the event. Darin Ayres (National Sales Manager), Amy Schmitz (Director of Corporate Marketing), Donn Mann (Senior Regional Sales Manager), Matt Haith (Area Specification Manager), Dave Giddens (Area Specification Manager) and Chris Padget (Regional Sales Manager) all represented the company at the conference.   

The conference sessions included many speakers who addressed the best ways to conserve water and how the irrigation world is adapting to changes in the industry. Nationally-recognized leaders shared knowledge and insights, including about Disney World Resorts, which currently uses 85 percent reclaimed water with 826 controllers, 12,000 valves and 93 rain sensors. Disney plans to eventually use 100 percent reclaimed water for its sites. 

Chris Austin, who monitors water in California, explained that Coachella Valley has one of the biggest aquifers in the world and that the Claude "Bud" Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant in Carlsbad is one of the largest such plants in the western hemisphere. 

"ASIC brings together many irrigation experts who are passionate about how to best use water,” says Ayres. 

Since the 1970s, ASIC has advocated for the responsible use and preservation of water among professional irrigation consultants and clients. Its members facilitate water resource management through design, public service, education and promotion of the green industry.