AWWA Water Science Author Spotlight

Abstract

Having recently published an article in AWWA Water Science, Maria Morera answered a few questions from its editor-in-chief Kenneth L. Mercer about the research. Evolving Response to Smart Irrigation Controllers in High Water-Use Central Florida Homes Maria C. Morera, Paul F. Monaghan, Michael D. Dukes Maria enjoying a stroll through San Juan, Puerto Rico, after attending a conference. Photo courtesy of Alicia Peón Arceo. I'm part of a collaborative research team that is currently examining environmental attitudes, water savviness, yard care practices, and the demographics associated with receptivity to stormwater best management practices. We are preparing to collect data through an electronic survey of several thousand homeowners in a southwest Florida master-planned community. We expect that the quality of homeowners’ experiences with their neighborhood stormwater ponds will affect their preferences. Powerful scientific ideas transcend disciplinary boundaries, so being open-minded and feeling comfortable working in groups of scientists with diverse backgrounds and different areas of expertise are strengths I draw on as a researcher. The research behind our recent article in AWWA Water Science was the culmination of five years of longitudinal work that began as an external evaluation of a pilot project designed to test smart irrigation controllers under residential conditions. We were very interested in identifying the factors that influence homeowners’ long-term adoption of the water-saving technologies. We knew the controllers performed well in terms of irrigation adequacy and scheduling efficiency, yet over time we found homeowners’ experiences and familiarity with the devices ultimately determined their continued use. A key takeaway was the importance of well-tailored informational strategies for effective promotion of conservation behaviors among high irrigators. Maria collaborating on the development of an electronic survey in Gainesville, Florida. Photo courtesy of Maria Morera I grew up near the Everglades. Our school field trips immersed us in the ecology of South Florida. We had learning activities that included snorkeling over a coral reef, wading through a cypress dome, and camping in the pinelands. At the time, I was just having fun, but those excursions instilled in me a deep appreciation for sound natural resource management. To learn more about Maria's research, see the full article in AWWA Water Science, available online at https://doi.org/10.1002/aws2.1111.