Water Conservation Solutions Also Can Save Money

Water conservation is one of the hot topics in the irrigation industry. For good reason. Virtually every portion of the country–even the rain-forested Pacific Northwest and the soggy bayous of the Southeast–has dealt with drought conditions and even water rationing at some time during the past decade.

Professional irrigation contractors can respond to this trend if they understand all the water-saving product features and equipment that are available to them. Using the right controllers, sensors, sprinklers, and other equipment can not only save water, but can save money as well.

Rain Sensors Shut Systems Down When it Rains

Perhaps the quickest and simplest way to address water conservation needs is to add a rain sensor to an irrigation system. Rain sensors are designed to identify when precipitation is present and then shut off a controller so it does not run its program and irrigate when watering is unnecessary. After the rain, the sensor automatically resets, allowing the controller to resume its schedule without losing any program information.

In many states, rain sensors now are required to be installed on all new irrigation system. Some states even require sensors to be added on to existing systems.

“We automatically add in a rain sensor as part of the bid on a complete system,” said James Petersen of Spring Rain, LLC in Norman, Oklahoma.

Products like the Hunter Wireless Rain-Clik can be included on a new system or easily added to an existing one.

“We like to use rain sensors as an up-sell item, to boost up a system and enhance our profit margin on a job,” said Drew Buss of Precision Rain Lawn Irrigation in Lincoln, Nebraska. “It’s usually an easy sell, too, as more than 90 percent of our customers choose to install one. In fact, many of our customers ask us to install one before we even bring it up.”

Controllers Adjust for Daily, Seasonal Changes

Hunter Pro-C and ICC controllers make it easy for you to keep water use at a minimum while maximizing your system’s performance. These controllers are designed to be water efficient, with features like global water budgeting and seasonal adjustment, independent day scheduling options, and Cycle and Soak capability by station. Each of these features helps reduce water waste, making the Pro-C and ICC controllers among the most water efficient in the industry.

“Water conservation has become a part of our life here,” said Shawn Healy of Healy Landscaping in Salt Lake City. “After several drought years, we now have to live with odd/even day watering and strictly enforced levels of how much–or how little–water we can use. Hunter controllers make it easy.”

Further enhancing a controller’s water saving capabilities is the IMMS™, Hunter’s new water management and monitoring system. The IMMS is an affordable water-managing tool that allows you to control a network of irrigation systems–at either a single site or at various locations throughout an area – from a single central location.

With the IMMS, you can adjust and/or shut down controllers to account for climate changes, and you can also collect reports to monitor estimated water usage over time (in gallons and by total cost).

Because everything can be controlled from a single location, there is no need to drive all over town, which saves two other resources: gas and time.

Sprinklers and Nozzles Keep Water Where You Want it

Hunter sprinklers can help conserve water as well. The Institutional Spray features an in-stem pressure regulator that maximizes nozzle efficiency, regardless of the inlet pressure.

“In addition to controlled, reliable pressure, the Institutional Spray has helped eliminate misting and unwanted spray variations,” said Edwin Julian of Houston-based Texas Rainmakers. “It all adds up to the most efficient performance possible from a spray head.”

The I-20 rotor offers the patented FloStop® feature which allows stoppage of flow through an individual head while the remainder of the system is running. That means it is possible to service one head while the rest of the landscape gets watered on schedule.

Plus, both the Institutional Spray and I-20 rotor offer an optional drain check valve for up to 10 feet of elevation change. Puddling at the head, and damage from flooding and erosion are eliminated. For greater elevation changes, add the Hunter HCV for quick, economical elimination of low head drainage, up to 32 feet.

It’s not just the sprinklers that help you save. It’s also the nozzles. For instance, Hunter adjustable arc nozzles allow easy fine-tuning to precise settings, from 25 to 360 degrees, helping keep water exactly where you want it and nowhere else.

Hunter specialty nozzles are further examples of water efficiency. Pop-up micro-sprays deliver at reduced application rates for the precision of drip, but attach directly to a pop-up sprinkler. Short radius nozzles are specifically crafted for 2-, 4- and 6-foot radius throws, for more efficient coverage than drastically reducing radius range on a nozzle designed for longer throws. The PCN and PCB bubblers are pressure compensating, allowing the output of water to remain constant regardless of input pressure.

In independent testing at the Center for Irrigation Technology, Hunter nozzles consistently delivered optimum performance.

Sell the Virtues, Then Sell the Product

With all the water conservation features built into Hunter products, it makes sense to encourage customers to step up to these higher-grade products. When they see the benefits of spending a little more to get an Institutional Spray, or adding a check valve or rain sensor to their system, they’ll be willing to do it. And it will result in more profit for you.

Water conservation. Today, it’s everyone’s business. But it can make good business sense for you when installing Hunter products for your customers.