One of the biggest determining factors of the irrigation requirements for a project is plant selection. Landscapes dominated by turf grass, exotic ornamentals, or high-water-use plants – which can be seen in many of the Wailea resort areas – typically demand frequent irrigation. Landscaping that uses native or drought-tolerant plants can greatly reduce outdoor water use.  Knowing this and wanting to propenents of water conservation, Ledcor Maui has committed to using predominately native and canoe plantings in their project plans. Incorporating native and drought tolerant plants into the landscaping aligns with key elements of Maui County’s promotion of “xeriscaping” (read more here). PBR Hawaiʻi has helped to create a plant palette and design that includes a wide variety of native, drought tolerant and canoe plants.

The team is also proactively designing for Maui County’s water conservation measure that limits potable water irrigation to 3 days a week. An important consideration for water conservation is how plants are grouped in zones. Planning the design around the watering requirements and irrigation needs of similiar plants allows for more efficient irrigation applications. For example, native and drought tolerant plants that can withstand low irrigation and dry conditions can be in low water zones which follows Maui County’s water conservation recommendations (learn more here). Other water conservation efforts include the use of efficient irrigation systems, smart technology and leak detection capabilities.