[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10634]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               DESIGNATING JULY AS SMART IRRIGATION MONTH

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                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 8, 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.

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