Seattle Parks & Recreation Irrigation Audit

JBC Landscape Architects served as the prime consultant for a comprehensive study of Seattle Parks & Recreation’s irrigation and water management systems. With more than 450 irrigation systems spread across a park system of over 10,000 acres, the study addressed both the complexity and scale of maintaining efficient, sustainable operations. JBC’s work included detailed reviews of existing conditions, operational audits, water consumption patterns, utility data, and labor requirements, along with targeted analyses of the most critical and aging irrigation systems.

The project’s objectives were twofold: to identify short-term strategies that could immediately improve water efficiency and reduce operating costs, and to establish a framework for long-term system management and capital replacement. Working closely with Seattle Parks & Recreation leadership, JBC developed policy recommendations and operational strategies to guide the department toward more effective management of its irrigation infrastructure.

A key outcome of the study was the recommendation to align organizational policy with infrastructure management and sustainable best practices. By integrating efficiency benchmarks, lifecycle planning, and water conservation measures into departmental operations, the plan created a roadmap for lasting stewardship of Seattle’s irrigation assets. The results provide not only a strategy for reducing costs and resource consumption but also a foundation for sustainable park management that will serve the city and its residents for decades to come.