Location:

University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX
United States

Site Profile

Landscape Application:
Commercial
Size:
431 acres
Temperature Range:
40° - 100°F
Elevation:
489 ft (149 m)

Established in 1881, the University of Texas at Austin is a world-renowned public research university and the flagship campus of the University of Texas system. Serving more than 50,000 students and employing more than 24,000 faculty and staff, the university is composed of 18 colleges and schools and hosts 18 varsity sports teams. In 2009, campus officials decided the irrigation system needed a 21st-century upgrade.

UT’s motto: What starts here changes the world.

The Challenge

Frustrated by an outdated irrigation system that was wasting water and, in turn, millions of dollars in associated costs, in 2009 the University of Texas at Austin decided to explore new technologies. Before the system upgrade, irrigation made up about 19% of the total water usage on campus. Landscape types included grasses (Bermuda, St. Augustine, and Zoysia), bushes, and flowers.

The Solution

In 2011, the campus adopted a new irrigation system. The university’s approach included switching more than 18,000 spray nozzles to MP Rotators because of their low precipitation rate and high efficiency. Many of the landscaped areas are grassy pedestrian walkways, where the durable MP Rotator® has been able to withstand the high traffic. The irrigation system now makes up 6% of the total water used on campus. 

Product details: MP1000, MP2000, MP3000, MPCORNER, MPLCS515, MPRCS515, MPSS530.

The Result

The campus invested $2.1 million in irrigation system upgrades that included retrofitting sprays to MP Rotators. The university’s solution has resulted in annual water savings of approximately 100 million gallons, with associated cost savings of $1 million per year, which allowed it to recoup its investment in under three years. In 2017, the university received a Texas Environmental Excellence Award for its water conservation efforts.