Smart Approved WaterMark (SAWM) the one stop shop for water efficiency is the first water efficiency accreditation scheme in the world to recognise drought tolerant turf.
The only water efficiency label in Australia
SAWM has been certifying water efficient products and services since 2004 across many categories including irrigation, pool and spa, car washing, mulching, soil amendment products and commercial cleaning and more. Originally SAWM was established as the sister scheme to WELS, the Government program that uses a star rating system to classify household products such as taps, toilets, washers, and dryers. While the WELS program uses compliance with published standards to evaluate products SAWM requires applicants to supply evidence to support their license applications which demonstrate the water efficiency and water conservation characteristics of their product.
SAWM was born out of the Millennium Drought when the water industry was keen for an independent scheme to help identify which products and services would qualify for rebates. SAWM is a not-for-profit organisation and uses a panel of independent technical experts to evaluate information provided by applicants for licensing.
Our journey with turf
In 2017, the SAWM Expert Panel received an application from Lawn Solutions Australia for TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda grass. This presented a new challenge for the Expert Panel as the evidence required to demonstrate that a grass is “water saving” is complex. The range of conditions under which turf is grown, such different soil types and different climate zones, mean that clearly demonstrating that a particular turf variety is likely to use less water or be more drought tolerant is a difficult task.
Landing on the ‘Drought Tolerance’ eligibility criteria
SAWM has previously used guidelines to help applicants to the scheme prepare the right information to support their applications. It was decided to develop a new set of guidelines for turf grasses. After much deliberation and consultation, it was decided that the guidelines would focus on developing guidelines that would describe trials which would demonstrate the drought tolerance of grasses rather than try to measure their comparative use of water.
Smart Approved WaterMark working with the turf industry to develop turf grass guidelines
SAWM has developed detailed guidelines that outline the drought resilient criteria each application should aim to demonstrate and the appropriate research and turf tests to support the claims. From the outset the Jeremy Cape, Chair of the SAWM Expert Panel and Chris Philpot, CEO of SAWM, have led and facilitated extensive consultation with the Australian turf industry and with input from panel of independent turf professionals. For nearly two years expert Panel members and the independent turf experts drafted and revised the guidelines. In August 2021 the final guidelines were released which SAWM believes will meet the needs of the growers and reflect the quality of the SAWM label to prospective purchasers.
Chris Philpot, CEO, Smart Approved WaterMark said “We are very excited to be the first water efficiency certification scheme in the world to recognise drought tolerant turf. This has been a long journey for us and one that has taken careful consideration as it is critical we maintain the integrity of the labelling scheme. I’m pleased to say that we are launching the new turf category with confidence, acceptance, and a sense of innovation. I welcome all applications in this category”.
Jeremy Cape, Chair of the SAWM Expert Panel since its inception in 2004, facilitated the development of the guidelines for SAWM. “It’s great to see SAWM leading the way in water efficiency certification by developing practical guidelines for turf producers to make their applications to SAWM easier. The SAWM Expert Panel looks forward to reviewing many applications from here on in,” said Jeremy.
What does this innovation in certification mean for growers and consumers?
The selection of drought tolerant turf varieties for the home garden will help to conserve water as well as provide important amenity values. A goal of SAWM since its inception has been to identify products and services which consumers can use to optimise their use of water and reduce waste. Historically up to half of all domestic water use has been outside the home. Identifying turf grasses that are drought tolerant and require less water to provide valuable amenity, will ensure that gardens can remain cool, green sanctuaries.
Easy to follow guidelines ready to download at smartwatermark.org
The drought tolerance of turf grass varieties is best assessed by conducting an experiment or growth trials. While the expert panel does not insist on a specific trial methodology to demonstrate drought tolerance, the guidelines have been developed to inform applicants about the kind of trials that could generate the data to support an application.
It is important to emphasise that these guidelines are written solely to help applicants prepare submissions to Smart Approved WaterMark. These guidelines are not intended to set out a method for appraising all the characteristics of a turf grass. The aim is to evaluate the drought tolerance of turf grass to assist home gardeners who wish to use drought tolerance as their key selection criterion.
To evaluate applications, the expert panel requires objective, independent evidence that the turf grass demonstrates the drought tolerance characteristics claimed in the application (i.e., through independent testing or case studies). Note that unsubstantiated marketing claims are not regarded as evidence of water saving. All evidence submitted in support of an application to Smart Watermark certification must be prepared by an independent authority that has no financial interest in any turf varieties included in a trial.
TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda has led the way with independent testing through the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) with significant trial data provided in its application demonstrating its superior drought tolerance characteristics.
About Smart Approved WaterMark
Smart Approved WaterMark (SAWM) is the one-stop shop for water efficiency in Australia. Through its Smart Water Advice program, SAWM delivers a range of educational, interactive water-saving resources for councils and water utilities to take to communities about saving water around the home, garden, and business. SAWM certifies water-efficient products and services in Australia. With Smart Water Solutions, SAWM helps businesses reduce their water use and save money by delivering water audits and recommendations. SAWM has also published the ‘Water Efficient Australia’ 2019 report and ‘Water Efficiency 2017’ in partnership with Water Services Association Australia (WSAA). Smart Approved WaterMark works towards a blue future that celebrates the many amazing qualities of water, its strength, and its vulnerability.
