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Smart Irrigation Controllers

 

Irrigation has come a long way in the past few years. New and better technology is helping us save water and help our plants grow healthier even in a time of drought. With necessity comes invention and the irrigation field is no different. Five years ago the term Smart Irrigation Controller was not a phrase or a title. Now it is a technology born out of necessity.

A Smart Irrigation Controller (or SIC) calculates the proper irrigation amount based off weather and environmental changes in your area or yard. A conventional irrigation controller uses the programs and times we set and then repeats them on a static schedule. In reality we need to change our irrigation settings quite often but we settle on what we think is a happy medium most often.

Either an onsite or dial-up weather station is used to adjust runtimes up or down, as well as shut the system entirely down due to rain. A SIC can take into account your specific plant types, soil conditions, daily weather changes and even your latitude which all have an effect on your Evapotranspiration Rate, or ET. We program these parameters into the system and the controller calculates the appropriate amount of water usage according to the previous days ET rate.

Most municipalities have a rebate program available to help offset the material costs of these systems. The city of Santa Rosa offers up to $450.00 toward an approved Smart Irrigation Controller upgrade.

Dan Auch of Sweetwater Landscape recently completed the Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL) class at the Santa Rosa Junior College and is in the process of applying for the EPA’s WaterSense Partner program. The QWEL program is one of only two programs in the US that the EPA recognizes as a WaterSense program. “It is important that anyone who installs or make adjustments to your system be QWEL qualified. Some cities will only give rebates if QWEL qualified personnel install the SIC system,” adds Dan.

Contact Sweetwater Landscape to schedule an irrigation audit today to help you save water and money.