As we consider global warming, storm season, and weirder weather in general, the case for a smart irrigation controllers becomes more persuasive. More than the savings in your monthly JEA bill for water usage, it is the saving of our state, and the water supply that we need to keep in mind.
Did you know that up to 60% of our public freshwater supply is used for landscape irrigation? This is a shocking number considering the demands we place on our Floridan aquifer, which supplies 86% of Florida’s drinking water. In fact, we are tapping into the aquifer to the tune of nearly 8 billion gallons per day.
Fortunately, Florida gets over 50” of rain each year, and the water that doesn’t run off or go to surface water can eventually percolate back into the ground to replenish the aquifer.
However, there are threats to our water supply.
Threat: Population Growth
Population growth, both in the amount of people that need fresh water to drink, and the increase of rain impervious surface in the form of new rooftops, driveways, and streets are a primary concern. Research has shown that 47% more water is used in-ground irrigation than with hose and sprinklers where water is applied manually. The reason is that people have a “set it and forget it” attitude towards their irrigation timers. But we can’t afford to forget it anymore; water is too precious.
Solution: smart irrigation controllers
Smart irrigation controllers are here to the rescue. They can allow you to “set it and forget it” without wasting water due to over-irrigation. A smart irrigation controller is a device that receives sensor feedback and adjusts the irrigation frequency or duration accordingly. These smart controllers are of two general types: