Water Conservation Potential of Smart Controllers

Michael D. Dukes, Ph.D., P.E. Agricultural & Biological Engineering Institute of and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS)‏

Tampa Bay Regional Shortage Management Workshop Tampa, FL, May 5, 2009 Irrigation is a Standard “Appliance” Improper Design & Installation: Improper Coverage SMART WATER APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY (SWAT)‏ What is Smart Water Application Technology (SWAT)? • SWAT  Irrigation technologies designed to conserve water • SWAT concept created approx. 2001 by Irrigation Association (IA) & water purveyors • Technologies • moisture sensor (SMS) controllers • Evapotranspiration (ET) controllers • sensors (RS) Smart Water Application Technologies (SWAT)

Soil moisture sensor (SMS) controllers

Evapotranspiration (ET) based controllers

Irrigation controllers that respond to conditions in the irrigated system to automatically adjust to needs Rain sensors (RS) SMS CONTROLLER TESTING ON PLOTS Research (2004 - 2008)

12' × 12' SMS/ET Controllers 2006-08, Drought Conditions St. Augustinegrass testing ongoing since March 2006

72 plots 18 treatments & 4 replicates A: Rain Sensors B: Soil Moisture Sensor & ET Controllers Photo May 2006, M.L. Shedd Irrigation Savings Compared to a Time Schedule No Rain Sensor

80 72 70 59 60 54 50 39 40 Gainesville Citra 30

Irrigation Savings Irrigation (%) 20

10

0 Normal rainfall Dry conditions SMS TESTING ON COOPERATING HOMES, PINELLAS CO. Treatments

• SMS, Current irrigation system without rain sensor and with a soil moisture sensor controller

• EDU+RS, Current irrigation system with rain sensor & seasonal run time guidelines

• RS, Current irrigation system with rain sensor

• WOS, Current irrigation system without a sensor Pinellas County Homes, Irrigation Nov 06 – Dec 08

70 0

62a 2 60 54a 4

50 6

8 40 34b 10 30 12 22c

20 14 IrrigationApplication(inches)

16 (inches) Precipitation Effective Monthly 10 18

0 20 Nov-06 Feb-07 May-07 Sep-07 Dec-07 Mar-08 Jul-08 Oct-08 Jan-09

Effective Rainfall SMS EDU+RS RS WOS Pinellas County Homes, Irrigation Nov 06 – Dec 08

70 0

62a 2 60 54a 14%4

50 6

8 40 45% 34b 10 30 12 22c

20 65%14 IrrigationApplication(inches)

16 (inches) Precipitation Effective Monthly 10 18

0 20 Nov-06 Feb-07 May-07 Sep-07 Dec-07 Mar-08 Jul-08 Oct-08 Jan-09

Effective Rainfall SMS EDU+RS RS WOS ET CONTROLLER TESTING, HILLSBOROUGH CO. ET Controller Study GCREC Hillsborough County • Three ET controllers:  Weathermatic, Smartline SL800  Toro, Intellisense TIS-612OD  ETwater, Smart Controller 100 • Timeclock with RS • Reduced timeclock schedule with RS But will ET controllers work in the real world?!

Residential study in Hillsborough County… • 38 residential cooperators in Hillsborough Co.

o 21 homes have an ET controller

o 17 homes are a comparison group • All volunteers are moderate to high water users Irrigation Savings Potential

80 Rainy 70 Dry 60

50

40

30

20 Irrigation Savings Irrigation (%)

10

No data No data No No data No 0 Time Clock Rain Sensor Soil Soil ET ET Adjustment Moisture Moisture Controller, Controller, Sensor, Sensor, plots homes plots homes Next Steps….

• Applying the technology  Targeting users with potential savings  Building public awareness  Education of contractors for proper installation  Verification of savings over time

• Apply to reclaim irrigation to stretch increasingly limited supplies Thank you!

Southwest Florida Water Management District, Pinellas Co. Utilities, Hillsborough Co. Water Dept., Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Florida Nursery Growers and Assoc., Florida Turfgrass Assoc., Florida Sod Growers Co-op.

[email protected] http://irrigation.ifas.ufl.edu