Plenty of Water to Use, None to Waste. Mall: Showpiece for Water Conservation. |
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June 14, 2008
From Daily Republic By Barry Eberling FAIRFIELD - Satellites relay data to the irrigation system at Westfield Shoppingtown Solano so 6.5 acres of landscaping gets just enough water, depending on the weather. No wasted water. No runoff that can carry pollutants down storm drains and into creeks. The Westfield mall is a high-tech water conservation showpiece. It is taking part in a Solano County Water Agency pilot program to someday make "smart" water management systems a way of life. "The system has been fully operational since October," mall manager Todd Falduti said. "We've seen a 40 percent decrease in water usage, which has saved us 2 million gallons of water." The WeatherTRAK system by Petaluma-based HydroPoint is already used in other parts of the state. But such smart water management systems have yet to become popular in Solano County. To change that, the SCWA has subsidized installing the system at such high-profile businesses as the mall in Fairfield and Lowe's Home Improvement in Vacaville. "Every little bit helps," SCWA General Manager David Okita said. "We know outdoor landscaping is just a huge water use in Solano County in the summertime." The mall's irrigation control system has information programmed in it for about 140 landscaping zones, based on such factors as the plants and the slope of the ground. Flowers get different amounts of water than grass. Next, SCWA will work with local cities on a rebate program to get the "smart" irrigation systems at homes. The system for the mall cost about $12,000, SCWA Water Resource Specialist Andrew Florendo said. A system for a home could cost $500 or more. That's not counting rebates. "It's actually a fairly simple device, but with some neat technology imbedded in it," said Tom Ash of HydroPoint. |
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