Landscape Irrigation and the Coronavirus Pandemic

by Tom Barrett | Mar 27, 2020

How Will the Coronavirus Affect the Landscape Irrigation Industry?

In an effort to stem the coronavirus pandemic, the Ohio Department of Health has issued a Stay at Home Order for all non-essential businesses across the state. Landscape irrigation contractors are wondering where they fit in.

Of course, agricultural irrigation is considered an essential function because of its role in necessary food production. But is landscape irrigation considered “essential” or “non-essential”?

Bad Timing

While there’s never a good time for a pandemic, early spring is particularly problematic for green industries. This six-to-eight-week period is peak season. For irrigation contractors, it’s time for spring tune-ups, inspections and backflow testing.

In an open letter to legislators and other officials, available on the national Irrigation Association website, the IA states:

“We are entering the spring months when many irrigation systems will be turned on by the homeowner/property manager. It is imperative that these systems are professionally inspected (in accordance with state and local codes and regulations), ensuring there are no leaks and the backflow prevention device is operating properly.”

The association further argues that landscape irrigation should be included in essential services because:

“We need to ensure water is available for all uses during this health emergency. Ensuring irrigation systems are doing their job and running properly is an essential component in protecting our nation’s water supply.”

CISA’s Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce

There are two separate categories where landscape irrigation professionals could be considered part of the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce, according to Homeland Security’s CISA List:

Water and Wastewater. “Workers repairing water and wastewater conveyances and performing required sampling or monitoring.” (e.g., backflow testing), and
Public Works. “Workers such as plumbers, electricians, exterminators, and other service providers who provide services that are necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences.”

The argument could also be made that, since irrigation professionals perform virtually all of their work outdoors, close human contact can easily be avoided.

Economic Outlook for Irrigation

Construction
Guidelines

As of March 31, here are the pandemic guidelines for the construction industry for Ohio and neighboring states.

(Please note: Guidelines continue to change. Check with your local authorities.)

Ohio: Construction on critical infrastructure continuing

Pennsylvania: All construction halted

Indiana: Critical construction continuing

Kentucky: Construction and landscaping considered essential

Michigan: Construction on critical infrastructure continuing

West Virginia: Critical construction continuing

According to chief economist Dr. Charlie Hall, before this pandemic, the green industry was poised to have a very good spring. Since the outbreak, there have been supply chain disruptions, massive unemployment, quarantines, closures and negative demand shocks.

The question now is: “Will consumers continue to spend their money in the lawn and garden area?” Currently, it’s impossible to tell.

Dr. Hall outlined four possible outcomes for the current economic recession:

The medical and economic crisis ends in three months and businesses gradually return to some sense of normalcy.
The pandemic is seasonal – decreasing with warm weather and returning in the fall – in which case the economic downturn would last 12 months.
The pandemic / economic downturn persists until “herd immunity” is reached, in about two years.
The pandemic / economic downturn persists until a vaccine or treatment is developed, in about 12-18 months.

What to Expect

Dr. Hall also suggested that green business owners can expect “clusters” of illness among their team members. So it’s important to identify susceptible critical functions, as well as supply chain risks.

Some irrigation contractors may be eligible for federal loans or other benefits. In order to receive them, you’ll have to measure and document the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on your business. Hall also said that this is not the time to be making any big business decisions. Defer those until the crisis has passed.

Growth Opportunities?

The good news is…being ordered to stay at home, people will certainly be spending more time in their yards and gardens. Which means they’ll want to keep their landscapes green and healthy.

Resourceful business owners will use this opportunity to spread the word about the many health benefits of plants. The Texas A & M Extension offers an extensive list of publications and websites which tout the benefits of plants on human health and well-being.

For more information about the effect of the coronavirus on the green industry, check out AmericanHort’s Coronavirus Resource Center.

Sources:
Featured Image: Pixabay
Cleveland Scene
Irrigation Association
CISA
AmericanHort

Pandemic Guidelines for Landscape Irrigation Contractors

by Tom Barrett | Mar 26, 2020

ONLA Offers Best Practices for Contractors During Pandemic

The Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association (ONLA) advises landscape irrigation contractors to use careful discretion in determining whether they remain operational during the coronavirus pandemic.

In its COVID-19 update the association stated:

“The ultimate decision and responsibility rests with the business owner, and should be made in the context of strict adherence to health and safety guidance to protect workers and customers.”

Best Practices

Do You Have a
Garden Center?

Does your business include a garden center?

As the weather warms up, people staying at home will be looking for supplies to maintain their lawns and gardens.

Check out the ONLA website for best practices to follow while operating garden centers during the pandemic.

For those contractors who choose to continue operations, the ONLA offers the following best management practices:

Obtain permission from clients prior to service – preferably, in a documented format such as email or other electronic communication.
Implement daily communications to all staff in order to educate and reinforce protocols.
Relax attendance policies to allow any employee to stay home and use PTO.
Train crew members to respond to questions from the public in a professional manner.
Enforce cleaning and sanitation protocols for all common spaces, including trucks and equipment.
Stagger crew start times to minimize personal contact.
Limit crews to one person per truck, while all other crew members drive directly to the jobsite.
Divide crew size into smaller, isolatable segments.
Assign one truck per crew and do not rotate.
Minimize use of shared equipment and tools.
Direct crew members to wear gloves as much as possible.
Direct crew members who must work in close proximity to one another for a short period of time to wear a face mask.
Be prepared to shut down a project any time, if the customer raises health or safety concerns.