Residential Water Savings Associated with Satellite-Based ET Irrigation Controllers
Publication: Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 134, Issue 1
Abstract
A mixed landscape irrigation study was conducted on 27 residential sites in Las Vegas to quantify water savings associated with satellite irrigation controllers. Seventeen sites were equipped with evapotranspiration-based (ET) satellite irrigation controllers and ten sites were designated as control sites and retrofitted with nonET-based irrigation controllers. Results showed that 13 of 16 ET-based controller sites saved water compared to four of ten of the nonET-based control sites. When all control sites were grouped together, a statistical difference occurred between the control and ET-based groups (ET-based controller= savings) . Results from this study indicated that water savings were not because of deficit irrigations at the expense of the landscape plant material. Eighty-one percent of the variation in the total outdoor water use could be described by the total turfgrass area at each site. Such results would suggest that turfgrass limitations have merit, if the grass being restricted is tall fescue growing in an arid environment.
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Acknowledgments
The writers wish to thank the Southern Nevada Water Authority for financial and in-kind contributions in support of this research and the United States Bureau of Reclamation for their financial support. Thanks also go to Mr. Kent Sovocool and Mr. Mitchell Morgan from the Southern Nevada Water Authority for their contributions to the manuscript, and Ms. Amanda Wagner, Ms. Lena Wright, and Mr. Jeff Andersen for their able laboratory and field assistance.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 134 • Issue 1 • February 2008
Pages: 74 - 82
Copyright
© 2008 ASCE.
History
Received: Aug 22, 2006
Accepted: Apr 9, 2007
Published online: Feb 1, 2008
Published in print: Feb 2008
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