High-tech WeatherTRAK System Tells Us When to Water and for How Long |
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November 2007 From The Community Voice By Jud Snyder Many of us are exasperated to see lawn irrigation sprinklers cheerfully working away doing their duty in the middle of a rainstorm. They can't help it. They're controlled by a timer that doesn't know the difference between sunshine, moonlight or a driving rainstorm. The irrigation system is simply doing what it was told to do. But technology has caught up with them. It's called Smart Irrigation Controller, a program between Sonoma County Water Agency and the City of Rohnert Park. The Smart Water Controller uses weather data collected and computerized at SCWA in Santa Rosa and sends signals to irrigation systems with the Smart Controller system. They take it all in, and lawn sprinkling times and frequencies are automatically adjusted to fit weather conditions. That's an over-simplification of the system. A lot of technical information goes into the program and you can get it from SCWA. What's more, SCWA has a rebate program to help homeowners pay for the smart system. "The technology is more expensive than the standard equipment found in most homes today," said Diane Lesko, water conservation specialist with SCWA. "In order to make this technology more accessible, SCWA and your water provider (City of Rohnert Park), have partnered to provide rebates for the purchase of a Smart Controller. A limited number of rebates are available on a first come, first served basis through March 31, 2008, while funding lasts." The system available from HydroPoint in Petaluma (769-9696) is called WeatherTRAK and consists of a controller priced at $509 for outdoor installation for six stations on the irrigation system. The more stations, the higher the cost. It packs weather data from 14,000 government-regulated weather stations across the country. By computer, the weather pattern within one kilometer can be isolated to target local areas. The process is based on Evapotranspiration (ET). Connection between the SCWA computers and in-home irrigation systems is handled by a Scheduling Engine priced from $48. The cities of Petaluma and Sonoma are also participating in the SCWA rebate program. For example, if your home sprinkling system has up to 12 "active stations" (sprinkler heads), they'll provide a 75 percent rebate up to $300. For 12 to 24 active stations it's up to $700 and $1,100 for 25 or more. In addition SCWA will provide a 100 percent rebate on the signaling fees or scheduling engine (up to $150) for homes no matter how many sprinkling heads you have. Minimum requirements include at least 1,500 sq. ft. of automatically irrigated landscaping and at least 500 sq. ft. of well-maintained irrigated turf grass. Smart Controller must be installed and operational at the installation site for a minimum of two years with a minimum of three years prepaid signaling fees. The list of qualified Smart Controller manufacturers include three in Santa Rosa, two in Petaluma and one in Sebastopol. Phone numbers and addresses are provided. The move to Smart Controllers for home and business irrigation got underway when RP City Engineer Darrin Jenkins provided a report to the City Council Nov. 13, about the program. Jenkins sought approval from the council to have the city participate in the SCWA program and the Council readily agreed. "The East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) got the original grant on a regional basis," said Jenkins. "SCWA joined in and invited Rohnert Park to participate. "The Smart Controller knows when it's raining or there's a heavy fog. It sends a signal to home irrigation systems. For example, 'You need to irrigate your lawn soon for 12 minutes.' It really could save a lot of potable water." |
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