Smart Irrigation: A Sustainability Tool

Transcription

1 Smart Irrigation: A Sustainability Tool DATE AND TIME SPEAKER(S) Wednesday, 24 February 2010 / 1PM-2PM and 215PM-315PM Schuyler Stutzman Branch Manager John Deere Landscapes 2020 Kelsey Court Fort Wayne, IN 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

2 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.

3 WHY SMART IRRIGATION? SMART IRRIGATION Stewardship of our environment. -Water conservation SAVING WATER, SAVING MONEY, AND GETTING RESULTS! 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 onetime gift from the glaciers, the other 2% is runoff. 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. 1

4 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) ½ ½ CHECK VALVES COMMERCIAL EXAMPLE 1000 of 1 pipe 50% of water drains when system shuts off Approx. 4 gallons per 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. 2

5 PRESSURE REGULATION PRESSURE REGULATION PRESSURE REGULATED SPRINKLERS 15 HALF CIRCLE PATTERN EXAMPLE PRESSURE REGULATED SPRINKLERS 15 HALF CIRCLE PATTERN EXAMPLE (CONT.) REGULATED TO 30 PSI GPM - 10 minute run time gallons each - 20 sprinklers gallons per zone - SAVE 82 gallons - 22% water savings NON 50 PSI GPM - 10 minute run time gallons each - 20 sprinklers gallons per zone REGULATED TO 30 PSI - 5 zones - 5 X 82 = 410 gallons saved per irrigation day irrigation days X 410 = 49,200-49,200 GALLONS SAVED NON 50 PSI - 5 zones - 5 X 82 = 410 gallons wasted per irrigation day irrigation days 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! 3

6 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). 4

7 RAIN SENSORS SOIL MOISTURE 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. LOW VOLUME DRIP 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. 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. 5

8 LOW VOLUME DRIP WHAT THE HECK IS ET? 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. -EvapoTranspiration: The science of estimating how much moisture the plants and soil have lost due to weather conditions, used to calculate irrigation amounts. 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. 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. 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. 6

9 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 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 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. 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. RAINWATER HARVESTING 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 = Units Used Units x $4.33 = $ 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. 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 7

10 RAINWATER HARVESTING RAINWATER HARVESTING RAINWATER HARVESTING RAINWATER HARVESTING RAIN GARDENS 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. - Suitable for any land use situation residential, commercial, and industrial. - Should be strategically placed so impervious surfaces will drain into rain garden. 8

11 RAIN GARDEN COMPONENTS 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. 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 RAIN GARDENS 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 9

12 SMART IRRIGATION REFERENCES 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 Irrigation Association