Weather-based “smart” controllers versus manual controllers have shown a savings of water usage and accompanying costs of nearly 35%.
and can significantly impact the amount of water that is needed for plant material.
Weather-Based Controllers
The introduction of weather-based controllers began with hard wiring the controller to a weather station that was located somewhere in the community. Obviously, this was often cost prohibitive and was reserved for very large commercial properties and campuses. Weather-based controllers evolved as radio and then cellular technology improved. This allowed for the controller to access a shared weather station or shared weather data, which in turn could create a cost reduction given more reliable, real-time, weather information. Unfortunately, the weather station or weather data was not specific to the actual site where the controller was located but rather a generalized weather forecast.
No longer does the irrigation run after mother nature has provided ample water.
With continued technological advances, landscapers can now install extremely cost-effective weather-based controllers that use cellular communication with a miniature weather station in the community, thereby maximizing the efficiency of the irrigation system. No longer does the irrigation run after mother nature has provided ample water.
System run times auto-adjust based on rainfall, temperature variations, cloud cover & wind.
Now the system run times will be adjusted based not only on rainfall but temperature variations, cloud cover and wind. It will adjust run times based on current and
anticipated weather. Case studies on weather-based “smart” controllers versus manual controllers have shown a savings of water usage and accompanying costs of nearly 35%.
Why in Washington?
Now you might be asking why, in the Pacific Northwest, with all our abundant rainfall there is a need for this improved technology as compared to say a much more consistently dry climate like Arizona or Southern California. Well, it is that very reason that these advanced controllers are not as critical in those hotter climates. Once the controller is set for a season in the hotter climates, there isn’t nearly as much variability in the weather and thus not as much of a need to constantly adjust the run times. Here in the Pacific Northwest, weather can shift quickly and often with significant variations in rain and temperature. For this reason, these “smart” controllers have had a significant impact on water usage as compared to the original controllers.
Weather can shift often with significant variations in rain and temperature.
Community Water Consumption
The cost of water and water distribution is increasing at a significant rate. Larger HOA’s are sometimes the greatest water consumer for a water district during the growing season and thus are sometimes susceptible to water rationing or higher water rates during those years when the snowpack is below average.
Save While Being Green
Having your landscape service provider install cost efficient weather-based controllers that are utilizing today’s advanced technology can provide significant water savings and protect against the potential for water rationing.
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