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Water Efficient Technologies


Automatic Irrigation Timer A simple-to-operate automatic timer or controller can be installed on an existing manual irrigation system. The controller automatically will operate the sprinklers on the proper day of the week for the correct amount of run time. This will meet the plant’s water needs as well as apply the water in off-peak night or early morning hours. More elaborate controllers offer extra flexibility to manage larger sites with many different hydrozones and site conditions. Any controller can use a rain or soil moisture sensor to prevent the sprinklers from operating when natural precipitation has met the plants’ water needs.		Centralized Irrigation Controllers To manage many irrigation controllers spread out among many sites, a centralized control system will save labor costs as well as increase water efficiencies. A typical central irrigation control system utilizes a computer to create, adjust and save irrigation schedules for multiple controllers at various locations. The computer then communicates to the controllers by radio, hardwire, telephone or a combination of two or more methods. A computercentral system can also monitor and react to different alarm situations like broken heads or pipes, valve malfunctions or many other water-saving sensors.

“Smart” Controllers A new class of “smart” controllers is now available on the market. Unlike traditional controllers, which are really just timers, “smart” controllers work by monitoring and using information about site conditions (such as soil moisture, rain, wind, slope, soil, plant type and more), and applying the right amount of water based on those factors. These climate based “smart” controllers are avialable from many manufacturers and the irrigation industry has created an evaluation program to set standards of performance for this class of product.		PC Software Software programs have been developed tothe designer and water manager in the analysis of the efficiency of an existing or newly-designed irrigation system. Two of the primary programs were developed by the Center for Irrigation Technology at California State University, Fresno. The program used to generate graphic representations of sprinkler efficiencies is called Hyper-SPACETM. The software that analyzes the costs versus the benefits of improving irrigation efficiencies is called SPACE Irrigation SurveyTM. Many certified water auditors and certified irrigation designers use these software programs extensively.

Sensors Several types of sensors are available that take the human factor out of irrigation system operation. Rain shut-offs Freeze sensors Wind sensors Flow sensors Soil moisture measurement Weather stations		Flow Control Nozzles Sprinklers with a uniform application rate that use the lowest possible water pressure are the goal. One method that helps achieve this goal is the use of flow-control nozzles. Each sprinkler nozzle is equipped with a flow-control device that compensates for flow changes and maintains a uniform pressure. This can be a desirable feature on slopes. The flow control also acts to reduce flow should a sprinkler head be broken.

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