Implementing Smart Controllers on Single-Family Homes with Excessive Irrigation

Abstract

In this study, smart irrigation controllers were targeted toward single-family potable water customers in Orange County, Florida with excessive landscape irrigation patterns. Out of five treatments, four treatments received either an evapotranspiration controller (ET) or soil moisture sensor (SMS) controller, installed by a contractor, but two technology treatments included an educational program (+Pgm) component. The fifth treatment was a comparison treatment (MO) with no interventions to their normal irrigation scheduling methods. After 22 months of evaluation, both +Pgm treatments reduced irrigation application, ranging from 21 to 52%. However, none of the treatments performed with high efficiency in all seasons. Only a few treatments were able to maintain irrigation totals within a gross irrigation requirement (GIR) range from 60 to 100% efficiency. The technology treatments that participated in the customized educational program were more likely to achieve additional reductions in irrigation application compared with the technology only treatments. Additionally, there was higher consistency in efficient irrigation application by the SMS technology than the ET technology. The SMS+Pgm was the most efficient regardless of soil type with weekly irrigation for SMS+Pgm averaging 11–13 mm per week in the flatwoods locations and water savings of 34–52% across all seasons. In the sand locations, weekly irrigation averaged 16–22 mm for ET+Pgm, SMS, and SMS+Pgm, resulting in very little difference among these treatments. Dry season water savings for these three treatments was 4–35% with increased savings of 21–43% in the wet seasons. The ET controllers may require technological advancement combined with additional educational opportunities to achieve the same consistency of water savings as the SMS. Additional irrigation reduction is possible with both controllers tested here in most cases and may be achieved with education or additional customized programming and setup.