Rolando Orellana, an urban water management agent with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension at the Georgia Center for Urban Agriculture on the UGA Griffin Campus, spoke on Apr. 17 about his efforts to promote efficient and sustainable water use across the state.
Orellana said that managing water is increasingly important as it remains vital to both the economy and daily life. “We’re going into an era where water is going to be a precious resource that we need to manage,” he said. “It’s very important for our economy, and it’s important for our life.”
Having grown up on a coffee farm in Honduras, Orellana brings firsthand agricultural experience to his role. He joined UGA in 2010 as a landscape safety trainer before moving into various Extension roles in Fulton and Cobb counties, eventually returning to work with the Georgia Center for Urban Agriculture.
Orellana explained that while regions in the South benefit from higher rainfall—receiving between 50 to 60 inches annually compared to areas with as little as 15 inches—there is still a need for careful management. “We are so blessed that we have water, but we also need to manage it,” he said.
His work focuses on emerging irrigation technologies such as system automation and weather-based controllers. Orellana identified education as a major challenge: “I think the biggest roadblock is education,” he said. “Right now, there’s either not enough information or there is too much information.” To address this, he conducts trainings for landscapers and industry professionals so they can apply sustainable solutions within their communities.
The Griffin Campus features two demonstration sites dedicated to irrigation and stormwater management, which serve both educational and research purposes. These sites were developed through collaboration with industry partners who provided expertise, funding, parts, and labor.
“Being an educator is difficult and is also very rewarding,” Orellana said. “What matters most to me is helping others succeed. When landscapers and growers can apply what we share to improve their work, that’s when I feel we’ve truly made a difference.” Looking ahead, Orellana expressed gratitude for being part of an organization that supports innovation: “Every project teaches me something new, and I look forward to continuing to learn and help more people in our communities,” he said.
