Landscape Irrigation
Design Services
Irrigation Design Consultant Services for Architects, Civil Engineers, and Land Developers — Nationwide
We do not serve residential homeowners. Our practice is built exclusively around professional project teams who need a reliable, experienced irrigation design partner from schematic design through construction documentation. Our irrigation design services are cost-efficient, helping clients save money while maximizing water efficiency. We specialize in delivering precision-driven irrigation plans that maximize efficiency and save costs, and we focus on solutions that deliver value. We also reference resources like Rain Bird’s tools for designing non-potable irrigation systems to achieve maximum water savings, and recognize Hunter Industries’ development of resilient irrigation systems that maximize water efficiency. Irrigation designers today are challenged to develop innovative solutions that comply with local codes and regulations, and we are dedicated to meeting those challenges for our clients.
Irrigation System Types We Design
Our irrigation design services cover a broad range of system types, each selected and engineered based on site conditions, water availability, plant material requirements, and local regulatory standards.
Drip Irrigation Systems Drip irrigation delivers water slowly and directly to plant root zones, making it the most water-efficient option for planters, shrub beds, tree wells, and revegetation areas. Our drip system designs incorporate pressure-compensating emitters to ensure consistent delivery across grade changes, and are frequently specified on projects where MWELO, MWUELO, or other water-efficiency regulations apply. Drip systems minimize evaporation, reduce weed pressure, and lower the risk of water-related plant disease — all critical factors in long-term landscape performance.
Spray Irrigation and Rotor Systems For turf areas, groundcovers, and formal planting beds, our designers specify spray heads and rotary nozzles engineered for head-to-head coverage, matched precipitation rates, and efficient distribution uniformity (DU). We carefully zone spray systems to accommodate varying water requirements across the landscape and eliminate overspray onto hardscapes, buildings, or impervious surfaces.
Two-Wire Centralized Irrigation Control Systems Large or complex sites — including corporate campuses, mixed-use developments, HOA common areas, and public parks — benefit from centralized two-wire control technology. These systems allow for multi-zone scheduling from a single controller, reduce trenching and wiring costs compared to conventional multi-wire systems, and support advanced features such as flow sensing, weather-based ET adjustments, and remote monitoring via cloud-based platforms. Our designers are experienced with leading platforms including Hunter ACC2, Rain Bird ESP-LXME2, and Toro SENTINEL.
Green Roof and Rooftop Irrigation Systems Rooftop and elevated planting environments require specialized irrigation approaches that account for drainage layers, lightweight growing media, wind exposure, and structural load limits. Our green roof irrigation designs integrate moisture sensors and precision control systems to apply water only when needed, supporting both plant health and stormwater management compliance objectives.
Irrigation System Components
Key Components of a Commercial Irrigation System:
- Water Source and Metering: Every irrigation system starts with a reliable water source—municipal supply, well, or reclaimed water—connected through a dedicated irrigation meter to accurately track usage and manage costs.
- Backflow Prevention Devices: To protect potable water supplies and comply with local codes, backflow preventers are installed at the point of connection, ensuring irrigation water cannot contaminate the main supply.
- Mainlines and Lateral Lines: Mainlines distribute water from the source to various zones, while lateral lines branch off to deliver water directly to emitters, spray heads, or rotors. Proper sizing and layout are essential for efficient operation and to reduce water waste.
- Valves and Zone Controls: Electric or hydraulic valves control water flow to each irrigation zone, allowing for precise scheduling and management based on plant needs and site conditions.
- Emitters, Sprays, and Rotors: These are the end-point delivery tools—drip emitters for targeted watering, spray heads for uniform coverage, and rotors for larger turf areas—each selected to match the landscape’s requirements.
- Filtration and Pressure Regulation: Filters remove debris that could clog emitters, while pressure regulators ensure consistent water delivery, protecting system components and optimizing efficiency.
- Controllers and Sensors: Smart controllers automate irrigation schedules, while rain, soil moisture, and flow sensors provide real-time data to adjust watering and prevent over-irrigation.
- Isolation and Drainage Valves: These allow for maintenance, winterization, and emergency shut-off, helping to protect the system and extend its lifespan.
By utilizing the right combination of these components, our designers ensure every irrigation system we deliver is reliable, efficient, and tailored to the unique needs of each project.
Our Irrigation Design Process
Every irrigation design engagement at Evergreen Design Group follows a disciplined, documentation-driven process. Our plans are designed to be construction-ready, contractor-friendly, and code-compliant in every jurisdiction we serve.
Site and Utility Analysis We begin by reviewing civil grading plans, utility layouts, water meter sizing, static and dynamic pressure data, soil classifications, and the landscape planting plan. This coordination step is essential to prevent conflicts between irrigation infrastructure and other site systems — and it’s one of the most common failure points when irrigation is treated as an afterthought.
Hydraulic Calculations and Zone Layout Our designers perform hydraulic calculations to confirm adequate flow and pressure for every zone, size mainlines and lateral lines correctly, and establish zone boundaries that match plant water requirements (hydrozoning). We calculate system demand against available water supply to ensure the design is buildable as drawn.
Construction Document Production We produce fully detailed irrigation construction documents including irrigation plans, schedules, specifications, and installation details. Our drawings are formatted to integrate cleanly with civil, architectural, and landscape plan sets — which matters when your project is going through plan review or permitting.
Component Selection and Specifications We specify high-efficiency, commercially appropriate components from established manufacturers. Where project goals or local regulations require smart controllers, rain sensors, soil moisture sensors, or weather-based ET controllers, we incorporate these into the design and specifications.
Contractor Coordination and Permitting Support We work directly with your installation contractor to clarify design intent and resolve field conditions. In jurisdictions requiring irrigation permits — including California, where MWELO compliance documentation is mandatory — we assist in preparing the required submittals and calculations.
Water Conservation Strategies
Our Approach to Water Conservation in Irrigation Design:
- Hydrozoning: We group plants with similar water needs into dedicated irrigation zones, ensuring each area receives only the water it requires—no more, no less. This targeted approach reduces water waste and supports plant health.
- Smart Controllers and Sensors: By integrating weather-based controllers, soil moisture sensors, and flow monitoring devices, our systems automatically adjust irrigation schedules in response to real-time site conditions, preventing unnecessary watering and quickly identifying leaks.
- Drip and Low-Volume Irrigation: Where appropriate, we utilize drip irrigation and low-volume emitters to deliver water directly to plant root zones, minimizing evaporation and runoff—especially important in arid regions and for compliance with standards like California’s MWELO.
- Efficient Component Selection: We specify high-efficiency nozzles, pressure-regulated heads, and matched precipitation rate products to ensure uniform coverage and reduce overspray onto hardscapes or non-landscaped areas.
- Rainwater Harvesting and Reuse: For projects seeking to further reduce potable water use, we design systems that can utilize captured rainwater or treated greywater, integrating storage and filtration as needed.
- Regular Maintenance Planning: Our designs include recommendations for routine system checks and seasonal adjustments, helping clients maintain peak efficiency and extend the life of their irrigation investment.
By combining these strategies with our deep knowledge of local regulations and site-specific needs, Evergreen Design Group delivers irrigation solutions that help communities across the country use water wisely—protecting both the environment and your bottom line. To learn more about how our expertise can benefit your next project, contact us today.
Why Project Teams Choose Evergreen Design Group for Irrigation Design
Fully Integrated with Landscape and Tree Disposition Plans
Because we also provide land planning, landscape architecture, planting plans, and tree disposition plans in-house, our irrigation designs are coordinated with the full landscape package from day one. This eliminates common conflicts between tree rootball placement and mainline routing, between planting zones and spray coverage, and between hardscape grades and drainage.
Prototype Irrigation Plans for Large-Scale Programs
For developers and contractors managing multiple similar sites — such as production homebuilders, national retailers, or HOA communities — we develop prototype irrigation plans that establish a consistent design standard. Prototype plans reduce per-lot design time, simplify contractor bidding, and ensure uniform installation quality across the program.
Regulatory and Permitting Expertise
Water-use regulations vary significantly by state and municipality. Our team is current on water efficiency standards including California MWELO, Texas TCEQ irrigation requirements, and local ordinances across the 40+ states in which we are licensed. We design to comply — not retrofit for compliance after the fact.
National Reach, Consistent Delivery
Evergreen Design Group’s landscape architects are currently licensed in over 40 states, and our irrigation design team supports projects across the full national footprint. Whether you’re managing a single project in an unfamiliar jurisdiction or a multi-state development program, we deliver consistent quality and reliable turnaround.
20+ Years of Commercial Project Experience
Founded in 2005, Evergreen Design Group has spent two decades designing irrigation systems for the full range of commercial project types: master-planned communities, mixed-use developments, multifamily housing, commercial retail centers, corporate campuses, public parks, and institutional facilities.
Frequently Asked Questions — Commercial Irrigation Design
We serve architects, civil engineers, land developers, design-build contractors, and public agencies. We do not provide irrigation design services for individual homeowners.
Yes. While many clients engage us for a full landscape architecture and irrigation design package, we also provide irrigation design as a standalone consulting service when a project already has landscape plans in place.
Yes. We have extensive experience designing to water efficiency standards including California MWELO, Texas TCEQ regulations, and a range of local water district requirements. We prepare the compliance documentation required for permitting where applicable.
? A two-wire system uses a single pair of wires to communicate between the central controller and decoder modules at each valve, rather than running a dedicated wire per zone. It significantly reduces trenching and wiring labor on large sites and supports advanced monitoring and control features. We typically recommend it for sites with 30 or more irrigation zones.
We request civil grading plans, utility plans, and water service data at project kickoff, and we coordinate directly with the civil engineer and landscape architect (or work from our own landscape plans) to ensure the irrigation design is fully integrated with the broader site design package.
Work With an Experienced Irrigation Design Consultant
If your project requires a professional irrigation design partner with national experience, in-house coordination across landscape architecture disciplines, and a track record of delivering permit-ready construction documents on schedule — we should talk.
Evergreen Design Group serves project teams across the country. Our irrigation design consultants are ready to discuss your project’s scope, timeline, and regulatory requirements.
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