Coachella Valley Water District's conservation coordinator answers your community's questions

Ask Dave... How can my business conserve water? What is the easiest way to reduce our water use? What is an irrigation evaluation? What do we do after removing turf and adding water-efficient plants? How do we begin a landscape conversion? What is the Landscape Ordinance? How do we qualify for a landscape rebate? How can we be water efficient when overseeding? How can we eliminate water run-off? Will a smart irrigation controller really help us save water? What do we do if our association's water budget is too small?

Will a smart irrigation controller really help us save water?

By David Koller, CVWD conservation coordinator

Under the Water Wise Landscape Rebate & Discounts program, large landscape customers, such as homeowner associations and businesses with a dedicated landscape meter, are eligible to receive up to $750 per irrigated acre or half the cost of the controller, whichever is less.

One customer who has found success with the program is Lago de Palmas in Palm Desert. That association irrigates 2.45 acres of all-grass landscaping. They installed one controller with 32 stations. Over a 10-month period, they saved more than 2,000 Ccf (or 1.5 million gallons) on their monthly water bills and are meeting their water budget.

Another example is Los Lagos of Indian Wells, which irrigates 22.5 acres. Management installed eight controllers with 24 stations each. Their monthly water bills have gone down an average of 20 percent and, despite having all grass lawns, are also meeting their monthly water budget.

One of the most common questions about the program is “How long will it take for the new controller to pay for itself through water savings?” The answer, of course, it depends upon past water consumption and whether there are other factors contributing to the waste, such as an old, leaky system. Many customers find the controller pays for itself within six months to one year.

Often, homeowner associations purchase the smart controller in conjunction with system upgrades. If your association has an aging system and limited funds, we may recommend system upgrades prior to purchasing a smart controller. In the end, what is right for your community may not be right for another. The decision depends on the size of the area being irrigated, price range and the condition of the existing system.

To participate in the program, you must first complete and submit an application. Afterwards, CVWD staff will meet you and your landscaper to confirm eligibility and map the area that will be irrigated with the smart controller