Smart Irrigation: A Sustainability Tool

DATE AND TIME Wednesday, 24 February 2010 / 1PM-2PM and 215PM-315PM

SPEAKER(S) Schuyler Stutzman Branch Manager John Deere Landscapes 2020 Kelsey Court Fort Wayne, IN 46818 sstutzman@johndeerelandscapes.com

SESSION DESCRIPTION Conserve water and keep your parks green with smart irrigation. This basic of sustainable park and public land management is improving annually. Discover pools of information on how to be a good steward of our water resources and maintain your properties in a flood of flora. (1PM) Presenter Schuyler Stutzman gave a very informative session on environmental stewardship in the form of water conservation. He gave the statistics that only 3% of all the water on Earth is fresh water and of that 3%, 70% is frozen in the polar ice caps, and that of the water that is available 70% is used in agriculture. Mr. Stutzman talked about the merits of smart irrigation, such as elimination of waste and to minimize the cost of landscape repairs. He compared the payback rate of smart irrigation in terms of other well known products such as hybrid cars. He stated that a hybrid car may take 5 years before the initial investment is paid back in savings, but with smart irrigation you can nearly double your initial investment in just the first year. Next Mr. Stutzman spoke of different products that were on the market to help regulate the amount of water that is used and/or wasted in current irrigation situations. (215PM) Smart irrigation practices are designed to conserve water, which is environmentally and economically beneficial. The technology used in these irrigation practices is aimed at eliminating wasted water and excess water. Schuyler presented several of the devices used in smart irrigation, including check valves, which prevent water from leaking

out of the system, low volume drips, and pressure regulators. He also discussed rain sensors. A rain sensor is typically installed on an eave or a roof gutter, and connects to a sprinkler systems control board. It allows the control board to fluctuate the amount of water output from the system based on how much rain the area has received in the past few days. The pinnacle of these smart irrigation devices is the Smart Controller. It calculates the amount of moisture lost through evapotranspiration based on the specific soil type, plant type(s), climate, and temperature of the facility in which it is installed. Based on these calculations, it determines how much water needs to be pumped through the irrigation system in order to maintain the optimum moisture for the flora. SESSION LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Identify the need for water conservation as a basis for sustainability contribution to “greening” a community

Describe smart irrigation techniques and how they fit appropriately into a park’s operations.

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SMART IRRIGATION

SAVING WATER, SAVING

MONEY, AND GETTING

RESULTS!

WHY SMART IRRIGATION?

Stewardship of our environment.

-Water conservation

WHY SMART IRRIGATION?

3% of the water on the planet is fresh water.

70% of this fresh water is frozen in the ice

caps.

70% of the available fresh water is used for

agriculture.

98% of the water in the Great Lakes is a one-

time gift from the glaciers, the other 2% is run-

off.

WHY SMART IRRIGATION?

Money savings.

-Eliminate water waste

-Minimize cost of repairs to turf and

landscape

WHY SMART IRRIGATION?

WHAT’S MY PAYBACK???

Hybrid vehicles

-$8000 make your vehicle hybrid!

(payback period with tax credits is 5 years)

Energy Star Appliances (7 years)

Double pane windows (4 to 7 years)

Smart Irrigation! (double original investment in the first season)

WHY SMART IRRIGATION?

Efficient irrigation is the key to healthy

trees, turf, and shrubs.

Isn’t irrigation only for cosmetics?

-Plants cool the earth.

-Plants create oxygen.

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CHECK VALVES CHECK VALVES

Made for rotor and spray heads.

Prevents water from exiting the system

and draining out after the watering cycle

has stopped, retaining water within the

line and reducing water waste.

Check valves can come pre-installed or

separate for installation in the field.

CHECK VALVES

GALLONS PER 100’ (LENGTH)

1” 4.08

1 ½” 9.17

2” 16.31

2 ½” 25.49

3” 36.71

4” 65.26

CHECK VALVES

COMMERCIAL EXAMPLE

1000’ of 1” pipe

50% of water drains when system shuts off

Approx. 4 gallons per 100’

20 gallons drains per irrigation cycle

120 irrigation days per year

2400 gallons per year wasted!

PRESSURE REGULATION PRESSURE REGULATION

Remedies excessive pressure that causes misting in sprinkler heads.

-Allows sprinklers to operate at consistent pressure that is optimal to their performance.

-Fine mists are carried away by the slightest breeze.

Counteracts vandalism and major sprinkler defects (should one occur).

-Regulator acts as a flow control device, controlling flow loss and potential damage to surrounding structures.

Comes pre-installed in stem of the sprinkler head.

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PRESSURE REGULATION PRESSURE REGULATION

PRESSURE REGULATED SPRINKLERS

15’ HALF CIRCLE PATTERN

EXAMPLE

REGULATED TO 30 PSI

- 1.86 GPM

- 10 minute run time

- 18.6 gallons each

- 20 sprinklers

- 372 gallons per zone

- SAVE 82 gallons

- 22% water savings

NON REGULATED @ 50 PSI

- 2.27 GPM

- 10 minute run time

- 22.7 gallons each

- 20 sprinklers

- 454 gallons per zone

PRESSURE REGULATED SPRINKLERS

15’ HALF CIRCLE PATTERN

EXAMPLE (CONT.)

REGULATED TO 30 PSI

- 5 zones

- 5 X 82 = 410 gallons saved

per irrigation day

- 120 irrigation days

- 120 X 410 = 49,200

- 49,200 GALLONS SAVED

NON REGULATED @ 50 PSI

- 5 zones

- 5 X 82 = 410 gallons wasted

per irrigation day

- 120 irrigation days

- 120 X 410 = 49,200

PRESSURE REGULATION/CHECK VALVES

Check valve savings = 2400 gallons

Pressure regulation savings = 49,200

gallons

Total water savings = 51,600 gallons

Cost to add the features = $260

WHAT DOES IT MEAN???

AWWA – Average household uses

61,300 gallons per year for indoor use

The water saved by using pressure

regulated heads with check valves

instead of regular heads provides a very

large percentage of one household’s

entire annual indoor use!

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ROTARY NOZZLES ROTARY NOZZLES

Multiple streams work together to

promote uniform precipitation.

Multi-trajectory streams apply water more

slowly than conventional sprays.

Large water droplets are wind resistant.

Rotary nozzles use 30% less water and

greatly reduce runoff.

ROTARY NOZZLES

MOST EFFECTIVE WHEN OPERATING

AT 40PSI (USE A PRESSURE

REGULATED SPRAY HEAD)

FLOW SENSORS

Senses changes in

the flow of water,

indicating leaks in

the line.

Can be installed up

to 1000’ from the

controller.

RAIN SENSORS RAIN SENSORS

Typically mounts onto a gutter or any

other elevated object that is clear of

anything that would disrupt rainfall

reading.

Can be wired into controller up to 25’

away, or wireless version can be

mounted up to 1000’ away (line of sight).

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RAIN SENSORS

When sensor reads precipitation, it will

interrupt the common ground wire

between controller and valves, halting

further irrigation until the sensor dries

out.

All sensors are simple to install or retrofit

to existing systems.

SOIL MOISTURE SENSORS

SOIL MOISTURE SENSORS

Precisely monitors moisture levels, suspending or allowing watering cycles in order to maintain optimum soil moisture.

Monitors soil conditions every 10 minutes and provides a history on the last seven watering cycles.

Installs in-ground. No calibration or maintenance is necessary.

Typical water savings of 40% or more, paying for itself within one year in most cases.

Can be used in all soils and climates.

SOIL MOISTURE SENSORS

LOW VOLUME DRIP

Puts out low, concentrated doses of water in the areas you need it.

Can be used in turf, but most common application is in landscape beds.

Irrigate under mulch as opposed from above.

Less evaporation.

LOW VOLUME DRIP

Available in 12”, 18”,

and 24” spacing at

0.4, 0.6, and 0.9

GPH outputs.

Apply directly soil,

minimizing effects of

wind and

evaporation.

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LOW VOLUME DRIP

Emitters can be installed into a distribution tube

at any spacing. Especially useful for watering

hanging baskets, potted plants, or sparsely

planted shrubs in landscape bed.

SMART CONTROLLERS

WHAT THE HECK IS ET?

-EvapoTranspiration: The science of

estimating how much moisture the plants

and soil have lost due to weather

conditions, used to calculate irrigation

amounts.

SMART CONTROLLERS

Controller adjusts it’s watering schedule based on data received from soil moisture, rain, and other sensors/data.

-User sets zone specifics and watering windows.

-Controller takes all information and irrigates the precise amount of water the turf/shrubs need to stay healthy.

-Options available to program your controller and receive alerts via cell phone or computer.

SMART CONTROLLERS

Hunter Solar Sync

- Most inexpensive.

- Gathers on-site solar, precipitation, and temperature data used in calculation of evapotranspiration.

- Interface mounts next to or inside existing controller and sensor sits up to 40’ away.

SMART CONTROLLERS SMART CONTROLLERS

Hunter ET System

- Calculates ET via rain gauge, wind

speed indicator, and thermometer.

- Another easy upgrade to a Hunter

controller.

- ET sensor can be mounted up to 100’

away from ET module.

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SMART CONTROLLERS SMART CONTROLLERS

ET real life example:

Indianapolis Business Journal.

Mike’s Express Carwash uses a lot of water. There’s just no getting around it. So when automated systems engineer Ryan Binkley looked for ways to conserve resources, he focused on the company’s irrigation systems.

Fishers-based Mike’s has installed so-called “smart” irrigation systems at 36 of its locations, employing technology designed to reduce water use by monitoring weather conditions, precipitation and evaporation. The move has saved the company more than $67,000 a year.

Mike’s Carwash installed the Hunter brand Evapotranspiration system at its Lawrence store in May 2007. Binkley studied the water usage over the course of the year and noticed the store went from using more than 3,000 gallons of water for irrigation to less than 1,000. Irrigation costs plummeted from $11 a day to just $3.

So Mike’s installed the systems at additional locations starting in May 2008. Stores spend about $1,200 on the technology, but are able to save at least that much in water costs in the first three months.

“If you have the money, it’s worth the cost,” Binkley said. “We don’t see any loss in quality and when you look at the savings, the system speaks for itself.”

SMART CONTROLLERS

Rainbird Smart Controller

- Easy upgrade to Rainbird controllers, just install new panel.

- Extra simple to operate and program. Just set zone specifics and watering windows.

- Also has 10 year zip code weather history stored to help with accurate watering.

- Controller does all the work.

- Reasonably priced.

SMART CONTROLLERS

SMART CONTROLLERS

City of Troy Mich. example. Water Usage for 1 Rotor Zone

Rotors usually have an Application of .40” an hour

We usually figure 1” a week for Turf.

1 Rotor Zone for a commercial Job = 35 GPM (10 Rotors x 3.5)

35 GPM x 150 Minutes (2 TO 2.5 hours a week) =

5,250 Gallons Per Week

5,250 Gallons per week x 4.33 weeks per month =

22,733 Gallons Per Month

Cost of Water (Troy Michigan 2009) $4.33 Per Unit

1 Unit = 100 Cubic Feet of Water or 748 gallons

22,733 Gallons (divided by) 748 Gallons = 30.40 Units Used

30.40 Units x $4.33 = $131.63

For an average Job in Troy Michigan, it will cost $131 a month PER ROTOR ZONE!!!!!

A 10% savings with a weather station

That could be $13 A MONTH, PER ZONE!

24 zone controller x $13= $312 Month Savings per controller

$312 x 5 month season = $1560 in water savings a summer.

RAINWATER HARVESTING

Components…

- Fiberglass holding tank.

- Bury to any depth

- Non lockable lids

- Manhole cover

- Optional hinged lid

- Valve box w/bolt

- Submersible pump & controls

- Anti-floating “Deadman” anchors

- $20K and up

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RAINWATER HARVESTING RAINWATER HARVESTING

RAINWATER HARVESTING RAINWATER HARVESTING

RAIN GARDENS

What is a rain garden?

- A man-made depression in the ground that is used as a landscape tool to improve water quality.

- Forms a “bioretention” area by collecting water runoff and storing it, allowing it to be filtered and slowly absorbed by the soil.

- Nutrient filtering takes place as water comes in contact with soil, roots, and vegetation.

- First flush of rainwater is ponded in retention area and contains highest concentration of materials washed off impervious surfaces such as roofs, roads, and parking lots.

RAIN GARDENS

- Suitable for any land use

situation…residential, commercial, and

industrial.

- Should be strategically placed so

impervious surfaces will drain into rain

garden.

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RAIN GARDEN COMPONENTS

Ponding area

- Depression area that stores the water.

- Should have a depth of 6”.

- Provides adequate water storage, but should

not pond in excess of four days.

Grass buffer strip

- Slows water as it enters the rain garden.

- Filters particulates from runoff.

RAIN GARDEN COMPONENTS

Mulch/Organic Layer

- Provides for decomposition of organic material.

- Shredded hardwood mulch resists flotation and washout.

Planting soil

- Provides source of nutrients for the plants to sustain growth.

- Absorbs heavy metals and other pollutants

RAIN GARDEN COMPONENTS

Plant selection

- Species should tolerate extremes, both temperature and water levels.

- Should mimic forest habitat.

- Flowers, berries, groundcovers, perennials, and trees should be incorporated into planting design.

RAIN GARDENS ARE BEING INCREASINGLY SPEC’D ON PROJECTS OF ALL SIZES!

RAIN GARDENS

RAIN GARDENS RAIN GARDENS

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SMART IRRIGATION

What’s on the horizon?

- Rain sensors required by law in most parts of the country.

- Penalties being incurred for not complying with “smart irrigation”.

- Rebates being offered for those who take advantage of “smart irrigation”.

- Mostly in the west and south, but steadily moving this way.

REFERENCES

www.rainbird.com

www.rainbird.com/calculators/index.htm

www.hunterindustries.com www.hunterindustries.com/resources/library/product_technical.html

Irrigation Association

- www.irrigation.org

www.irrigationtutorials.com

www.chisagoswcd.org