Irrigation Industry Leader Showcases the Intelligent Use of Water During Thursday Morning Session Followed by Presentation of Keynote Session Focusing on Climate Change and the Global Water Supply

AZUSA, Calif. (Business Wire EON/PRWEB ) October 9, 2008 -- Rain Bird^®, the leading manufacturer and provider of irrigation products and services and a lead sponsor of the 2008 WaterSmart Innovations Conference and Exposition, set the tone for the 2^nd day of the water-focused conference with the presenting of climatologist Dr. Jonathan Overpeck as the luncheon keynote speaker.

The issue of global warming is especially critical in the semi-arid regions such as the Western United States where rising temperatures and decreasing precipitation rates are already having an effect on snow pack levels, and ultimately the availability of water in the Colorado River basin

We must develop an adaptation capability, and our ability to use water more efficiently is going to be a critical step in doing so.

Rain Bird recognizes the responsibility that we all bear in educating others on the severity of global water shortage problems and the solutions offered through efficient irrigation technologies and practices

Water is the resource that most affects human life, and keeping the planet's water resources viable into the foreseeable future requires advanced water conservation and better water efficiency through education and innovation.

One of the primary goals of this conference is to strengthen the collaboration and information transfer between the private and public sector

It is only by working in concert with companies, such as Rain Bird, that are committed to taking the message of resource responsibility into the communities they serve, will we be able to affect positive change on the environment.

As the director of the Institute for Environment and Society at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Ariz., and a lead author for the Nobel Peace Prize-winning United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, Overpeck’s much anticipated keynote address focused on how climate change is imposing an expanding new set of responsibilities on water industry professionals worldwide.

“The issue of global warming is especially critical in the semi-arid regions such as the Western United States where rising temperatures and decreasing precipitation rates are already having an effect on snow pack levels, and ultimately the availability of water in the Colorado River basin,” commented Dr. Overpeck during his presentation earlier today. “We must develop an adaptation capability, and our ability to use water more efficiently is going to be a critical step in doing so.”

Dr. Overpeck’s address was preceded by a Rain Bird presentation aimed at educating the industry and public on the realities of the current state of the Earth’s water situation, while addressing the options available through improved irrigation practices. Titled Irrigation For a Growing World, the presentation examined the depletion of the Earth's supply of usable water, options to address water-scarcity issues and the role of irrigation technology in finding a solution to the world’s water crisis.

“Rain Bird recognizes the responsibility that we all bear in educating others on the severity of global water shortage problems and the solutions offered through efficient irrigation technologies and practices,” said Rain Bird Corporate Marketing Director Dave Johnson. “Water is the resource that most affects human life, and keeping the planet’s water resources viable into the foreseeable future requires advanced water conservation and better water efficiency through education and innovation.”

Also joining Dr. Overpeck at today’s keynote luncheon was Benjamin Grumbles, assistant administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Water, who presented the first ever WaterSense Awards in recognition of the top efforts and innovations in water efficiency during the past year.

Presented by the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) in conjunction with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) WaterSense Program, WaterSmart Innovations Conference and Exposition serves to broaden the knowledge of innovations in urban water efficiency and water conservation, including products, programs and outreach. The largest and most comprehensive conference of its kind, it is the premier venue for showcasing new water-efficiency technology to a wide range of professionals from public and private sectors who are interested in establishing and putting into practice water management best-practices.

“One of the primary goals of this conference is to strengthen the collaboration and information transfer between the private and public sector,” said Doug Bennett, conservation manager for the Southern Nevada Water Authority. “It is only by working in concert with companies, such as Rain Bird, that are committed to taking the message of resource responsibility into the communities they serve, will we be able to affect positive change on the environment.”

ABOUT RAIN BIRD CORPORATION

Based in Azusa, Calif., Rain Bird Corporation is the leading manufacturer and provider of irrigation products and services. Since its beginnings in 1933, Rain Bird has offered the industry's broadest range of irrigation products for farms, golf courses, sports arenas, commercial developments and homes in more than 130 countries around the world. Rain Bird has been awarded more than 130 patents, including the first in 1935 for the impact sprinkler. Rain Bird and The Intelligent Use of Water is about using water wisely. Its commitment extends beyond products to education, training and services for the industry and the community. Rain Bird maintains state-of-the-art manufacturing assembly facilities in the United States, France, Sweden and Mexico. www.rainbird.com

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rainbird, climatology, jonathan overpeck, watersense, snwa, epa,

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