Methodologies for Successful Implementation of Smart Irrigation Controllers
Publication: Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 141, Issue 3
Abstract
Studies have shown minimal impact by smart irrigation controllers when installed indiscriminately, but targeting overirrigators increases the water conservation potential. The objective was to evaluate different methodologies defining residential overirrigators. Two independent smart controller studies were conducted by utilities in Hillsborough County [Hillsborough County Water Resource Services (HCWRS)] and Orange County [Orange County Utilities (OCU)], Florida. In HCWRS, the cooperators qualified when irrigation was in the top 50th percentile of potable water users in the county. Additionally, the 21 cooperators were located in three cities determined as having high water use relative to other cities in the same area. In OCU, 132 cooperators received smart controllers when frequently irrigating more than 1.5 times the gross irrigation requirement (GIR). Actual ratios of historical average irrigation to the GIR ranged from 1.45 to 2.37 in HCWRS and 6.04–8.33 in OCU. As a result, cooperators in OCU showed significant reductions in irrigation with a return on investment of 4–14 months compared to HCWRS with a payback period of 17–27 months despite higher water rates and larger irrigated areas in HCWRS. Using the GIR as a benchmark proved to be a better method than using utility-wide percentile ranges of irrigation application to target homeowners for smart controllers to ensure irrigation reductions. Smart controllers are recommended for homeowners who average two times the monthly GIR for at least three months per year over at least three years when implemented in conjunction with relatively well-maintained irrigation systems. Water savings were guaranteed when ratios averaged more than six using the same frequency standards. Additional requirements for successful implementation include site-specific programming and providing basic knowledge to the homeowner.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the Water Research Foundation, Orange County Utilities, Hillsborough County Water Resource Services, St. John’s River Water Management District, South Florida Water Management District, Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, and Tampa Bay Water for their generous support of this research. We would also like to acknowledge Maria Carver, Camille Reynolds, and Michael Gutierrez for their hard work and dedication to maintaining the quality of the research throughout their involvement in respective studies.
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Information & Authors
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Published In
Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 141 • Issue 3 • March 2015
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Dec 11, 2013
Accepted: Jul 15, 2014
Published online: Aug 18, 2014
Discussion open until: Jan 18, 2015
Published in print: Mar 1, 2015
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