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'SmartWater Application Technologies'
"Smart Water Application Technologies™", or SWAT™,
is an international partnership initiative of water purveyors and irrigation
industry representatives created to promote landscape water use efficiency
through the application of state-of-the-art irrigation technologies.
North America is being swept by a consciousness about water
conservation like never before. Part of this new found awareness has resulted
in new legislation that requires new irrigation technologies to be utilized
by Irrigation Contractors. Some municipalities, districts and water departments
are now requiring ‘Smartwater’ controllers, rain sensors and/or
soil moisture sensors. “Smart” irrigation technologies are
changing the face of landscape irrigation.
Why Should I use ‘Smartwater’ Application Technologies?
*Water supplies in some areas of the U.S. are, or soon will be, inadequate
to meet demand even under normal conditions.
*Increasing population density and unpredictable weather patterns are
putting ever-increasing demands on limited water resources.
*Reducing the amount of water used for lawn and landscape maintenance
is essential to protecting water supplies for current and future uses
and for protecting natural resources.
*Efficient use of water helps prevent waste, lessens the effects of drought,
and helps minimize run-off.
*According to landscape professionals, over-watering is the most common
problem in the home landscape.
*As much as 70 to 80 percent of all plant problems are related to incorrect
watering.
'Smart Controllers'
Smart irrigation controllers monitor and use information about environmental
conditions for a specific location and landscape—information such
as soil moisture, rain, wind, the plants' evaporation and transpiration
(I/TO) rates, and, in some cases, plant type and more—to decide
for themselves when to water, and when not to, providing exactly the right
amount of water to maintain lush, healthy growing conditions.
Because smart irrigation controllers are more efficient than traditional,
timer-based controllers, they also reduce overall water usage, typically
by 30% or more, saving you money and making a large, positive impact
on your community’s conservation efforts and water supply.
'Smart Controller' Case Studies
Irvine, CA-
In a field trial, forty smart controllers were installed in the homes
of high water users (top 23%) in the Westpark Village community of Irvine,
California. Results showed that the smart controllers reduced outdoor
water usage by an average of 16%, and have the potential to reduce it
by as much as 24%.
Santa Barbara, CA-
Initial data from another test in Santa Barbara County has found that
a test group of historically high water usage customers is reducing their
monthly water use by approximately 26% through the use of smart controllers,
with a high of 59% savings and a low of 8% savings.
Puget Sound, WA-
Another test of smart controllers conducted in Washington State among
“very high” water users (those that used an average of 375
gallons per day during the peak season above their average daily winter
use) reported average annual water savings of up to 20,735 gallons (or
27.7 CCF) per customer.
Smart Controller FAQS
If I install a smart controller, will my utility give me a discount
on my water bill?
Less water used for sprinkling means less water purchased from your utility,
so the reduced water use you can expect from installing a smart controller
will result in a “discounted” water bill. In addition, some
utilities will eliminate watering restrictions for sites watered with
a smart controller. Ask your local water utility for details.
How much do smart controllers cost?
The cost of smart controllers varies according to number of zones you
need and other features included in the model you select. In general,
you should expect to pay an average of about three times the cost of a
comparable conventional controller, plus installation, but this initial
investment is generally made up quickly in savings due to reduced water
usage. In addition, some weather station adjusted models (usually for
commercial applications) charge a small monthly or annual fee for transmission
of daily weather information. (Other, internal sensor-based smart controllers
rarely require transmission fees.)
Many areas are offering property owners incentives to install smart controllers
in multi-family and commercial properties. Be sure to check with your
water utility about rebates that may be available in your area.
Where do the automatic adjustments come from?
Smart controllers receive information from various sources depending on
the make and model. Some models use data from local weather stations or
on-site sensors. Still other models gather information from several weather
stations linked with weather modeling software to match the zip code and
address of the installation site. Several types have the capability to
work equally well.
How will installing a smart controller save me money?
A smart controller saves you money by reducing your water usage.
Your water savings will depend on how much you may have over-watered in
the past. Pilot studies have shown typical water savings to be in
the range of 20%-40% annually.
In addition, landscapes that are watered appropriately (i.e., not too
much or too little) are less likely to suffer from fungal disease and
insect infestations that can require costly treatment, protecting your
investment in plant material.
How does a smart controller make it easier for me to maintain my landscaping?
Traditional irrigation timers require manual adjustments every time the
weather changes. In contrast, a smart controller automatically adjusts
for local weather/site conditions. Once the initial set up and monitoring
is complete, you will not have to reset the timer, or even turn the timer
off for the winter. The smart controller makes those adjustments automatically.
'Soil Moisture Sensors'
The basic concept of a soil moisture sensor system is to place a sensor
in a representative part of the lawn and allowing the sensor to ‘sense’
if there is sufficient moisture in the soil for the grass. If there is
sufficient moisture, then the sensor will prevent the sprinkler system
from activating and applying water. However, if it senses that the soil
is dry, it allows irrigation to take place.
The advantages of soil moisture sensors are analogous to advantages of
‘Smart’ controllers.
Reducing utility expense
Soil moisture sensors eliminate guesswork and reduces water consumption.
The system automatically adjusts for weather conditions and seasonal changes.
Reduce Landscape Care expense
Temperature and soil moisture feedback can help optimize fertilizer applications.
Uniform moisture control helps identify distribution uniformity problems
and reduces disease and expensive plant replacement
'Soil Moisture Sensors' Case Studies
Moreno, CA-
This Southern California community successfully tested soil moisture sensors
as a means to achieve water conservation in landscaped parkways that are
too small and scattered to feasibly be controlled with a central control
system. Results showed that the sensors improved irrigation efficiency,
tracking with reference evapotranspiration (ETo) demonstrated "amazing
accuracy," and produced an average irrigation management labor savings
of 35% over traditional irrigation methods. These sensors have now been
installed in nearly 30 sites throughout the community.
Boulder, CO-
Results from a series of studies sponsored by the City of Boulder, Office
of Water Conservation, confirm that soil moisture sensors can successfully
automate irrigation scheduling in standard clock driven irrigation systems.
Their latest study shows that, even after five years in the field, soil
moisture sensors continue to conserve water while successfully matching
irrigation applications to requirements. In this study, the average water
application was approximately 21 inches (13 gpsf), or just 76% of the
theoretical requirement, with none of the study participants complaining
about the quality of their landscape.
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