“Smart” Irrigation Controller Programs
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EVALUATION OF CALIFORNIA WEATHER-BASED “SMART” IRRIGATION CONTROLLER PROGRAMS Presented to the California Department of Water Resources By The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and The East Bay Municipal Utility District Proposition 13 Urban Water Conservation Outlay Grant Agreements 4600003098 and 4600003099 July 1, 2009 Facilitated by: California Urban Water Conservation Council Prepared by: Peter Mayer, William DeOreo, Matt Hayden, and Renee Davis Aquacraft, Inc., Water Engineering and Management Erin Caldwell and Tom Miller National Research Center, Inc. Dr. Peter J. Bickel Evaluation of California WBIC Programs 6/30/2009 Aquacraft, Inc. Water Engineering and Management Evaluation of California WBIC Programs 7/1/2009 TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWARD.............................................................................................................................................................. IX ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .......................................................................................................................................... XI EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ......................................................................................................................................XIII INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................................................................................1 PURPOSE OF REPORT .................................................................................................................................................2 PARTICIPATING AGENCIES.........................................................................................................................................3 East Bay Municipal Utility District – lead agency..............................................................................................3 Metropolitan Water District of Southern California – lead agency.....................................................................3 Santa Barbara and Goleta ...................................................................................................................................4 OVERVIEW OF SMART CONTROLLER PROGRAMS AND DWR GRANT FUNDING..........................................................5 Grant Information................................................................................................................................................5 SMART CONTROLLER TECHNOLOGIES .......................................................................................................................6 Onsite Sensor Based Controllers .........................................................................................................................6 Signal Based Controllers .....................................................................................................................................6 SMART WATER APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY (SWAT) INITIATIVE ............................................................................6 EPA WATERSENSE....................................................................................................................................................7 CALIFORNIA AB 2717 TASK FORCE AND AB 1881....................................................................................................7 SMART CONTROLLER TECHNOLOGIES .......................................................................................................................8 RESEARCH METHODS............................................................................................................................................11 PROCESS EVALUATION METHODOLOGY..................................................................................................................11 Agency Survey Methodology..............................................................................................................................12 Participating Customer Survey Methodology ....................................................................................................12 Customer Survey Analysis Methodology............................................................................................................15 IMPACT EVALUATION METHODOLOGY....................................................................................................................15 Statistical Sampling Methodology......................................................................................................................15 Data Acquisition ................................................................................................................................................17 Data Cleaning and Database Preparation ........................................................................................................18 Evapotranspiration and Precipitation ...............................................................................................................21 Theoretical Irrigation Requirement ...................................................................................................................23 Adjusting for Changes in Weather During Pre- and Post-Installation Periods.................................................25 Descriptive and Validatory Statistics Methodology...........................................................................................27 ANOVA and Multiple Regression Methodology.................................................................................................28 Cost-Effectiveness Analysis................................................................................................................................30 Data Analysis and Final Report Preparation ....................................................................................................32 PROCESS EVALUATION OF CALIFORNIA SMART CONTROLLER PROGRAMS .........................................35 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PROGRAMS........................................................................................................................35 Exchange Programs...........................................................................................................................................38 Rebate Programs................................................................................................................................................39 Direct Installation Programs .............................................................................................................................40 Summary of Programs .......................................................................................................................................40 Public Awareness of Smart Control Technology in Southern California Increases ..........................................42 NORTHERN CALIFORNIA PROGRAMS .......................................................................................................................42 Coordinated Regional Database........................................................................................................................43 Controllers Installed in Northern California .....................................................................................................45 Goal of Market Transformation.........................................................................................................................45 EBMUD Marketing Strategy and Plan ..............................................................................................................46 Aquacraft, Inc. Water Engineering and Management i Evaluation of California WBIC Programs 7/1/2009 Revised EBMUD Program.................................................................................................................................48 Summary of Implemented Northern California WBIC Programs ......................................................................50 CONTROLLERS INSTALLED THROUGH DWR GRANT PROGRAMS.............................................................................50 CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SURVEY RESULTS FROM CALIFORNIA SMART CONTROLLER PROGRAMS ...............................................................................................................................................................53 Respondent property and controller types .........................................................................................................53 Participation in the smart controller program...................................................................................................56 Customer satisfaction with smart controller......................................................................................................57 Customer Satisfaction with the Installation and Maintenance Process .............................................................60 Customer Satisfaction with Smart Controller Programs ...................................................................................66 Recommendations to WBIC manufacturers and water utilities..........................................................................69 IMPACT EVALUATION OF CALIFORNIA SMART CONTROLLER PROGRAMS ...........................................71 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................................71 DESCRIPTIVE AND VALIDATORY STATISTICS FROM CALIFORNIA SMART CONTROLLER