Residential Smart Irrigation Program for Cities  

For Backflow Information, see further below 

Residential SIP 

We have partnered with some Twin City metro water purveyors to save millions of gallons of irrigation water annually with our unique SIP.  We professionally install a new weather-based Smart controller, program it and set run times, train you on the system, and perform a "Simple" yard audit and report to suggest ways to improve your current irrigation system.  You can expect to save an average of 50,000 gallons in irrigation water over a season and hundreds of dollars reduction in your water bill!

To be eligible for the Eagan SIP, one must be able to say yes to the following:

• The irrigation system is within Eagan city limits and is supplied by city water
• I have a home-based Wi-Fi that is strong and reliable
• I have a fully operational irrigation system 
• I have a traditional (non weather-based) controller in my home or garage with an available outlet within 5 feet (or I have an appropriate extension cord).

 Sign up for Eagan's program for 2022 HERE . 

What are the details of the Residential SIP?  

Application instructions and the service agreement with the client is conducted on our own platform linked to the cloud-based Safe Water Commission database. Payment is performed via credit or debit card through Stripe – one of the largest payment processing organizations in the world. The proprietary client data is saved to our protected data base and is used throughout the process to make it seamlessly flow. We will use this data to prepare a monthly list of the clients to process the rebates with the city.

Costs

Recipients of the 2022 SIP are charged according to the number of zones of their system. The residents will pay as follows:

• 6 zones or less - $175

• 7 zones - $205

• 8 zones - $245

• 9 zones - $283

• 10 zones - $303

• 11 zones - $364

• 12 zones – $380

Additional zones will be performed and priced on a case-by-case basis

The city will pay Safe Water $80 for the controller and $170 for the “Simple Audit” – both of which are reimbursable by the Metropolitan Council.

Scheduling Appointments

The program manager will contact applicants by telephone or e-mail initially, then will send a reminder email the day of the appointment. The residents are required to be present. Typically, the appointments last an hour on average, but a larger yard can take close to 2 hours.

Yard Evaluation/ “Simple Audit”

An EPA Water Sense Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor, who is a landscape professional, will look at the backflow device, obtain a water pressure and start walking the yard beginning in Zone 1. He will systematically determine the soil for the zone, the number and type of head in each zone (rotor, spray, or rotating nozzle), and notate the number in each zone that need to be adjusted, replaced, or moved. Evidence of broken lines and valves is observed. Next, recommendations for system repair and adjustment are made. For example, heads often leak or need adjustments. Rotor heads often broadcast across sidewalks and roadways as it broadcasts across a broad swath. A few of these types of adjustments will be made in the field by Safe Water and more time intensive issues will be listed in the recommendations section of the report as future work by an irrigation contractor.

Professional Replacement of Old Controller

Many cities sell the unit directly to the resident themselves, but our experience shows this approach leads to errors and significant overwatering. Our irrigation professional will remove the old controller and install a Wi-Fi enabled, Hunter Hydrawise “smart” controller while the homeowner is at home. We use Hunter controllers because they are the standard for the industry, are very durable, and they use the Hydrawise platform. Hydrawise uses very accurate weather forecasts specific to an area 1600 feet from the controller and past weather data from the Weather Underground to provide very detailed local forecasts.

This weather-based controller is programmable with many advanced features but works extremely well in determining when the unit should NOT run based on recent and forecast rainfall, low temperatures, and high winds. This controller is particularly effective in the spring and fall. In the upper Midwest, the frequent low maximum temperatures in the Spring and Fall slow plant evapotranspiration and is often too low to require irrigation. If programmed properly, the Hydrawise controller skips those cycles.

The average water saved from skipped water cycles is 35% annually with the Hunter Hydrawise and other comparable systems if programmed similarly.

Professional Setting of Controller Times

Irrigation scheduling by our professional ensures that the entire system is up and running at a rate to optimize water conservation, yet still maintain a healthy yard. Based on the information obtained during the yard evaluation (“simple” audit) and using our calculations within our proprietary algorithms built by Safe Water, the Landscape Professional will program the controller with appropriate run times. Some factors we use include the soil type, shade, and vegetation type. Typically, this step in our SIP will further reduce irrigation annually at 25% less unless the owner requires us to water the yard more than we recommend. Although the resident has this option, they almost always agree with our recommendations.

Having a professional set the times also ensures the city that the resident actually waters on the proper days the city has mandated by their irrigation schedules (e.g. odd or even). Also, the Safe Water program manager will have ongoing access to all the controller data to help the resident if any issues arrive after install, and the city never has to be involved with problems that the property owner may have.

Adding or Replacing the Rain Sensor (optional for a cost)

The Landscape Professional will determine whether the resident has a functional rain sensor. If not, or if the sensor appears to be at the end of its life, Safe Water will suggest that they purchase one. If they agree, the Landscape Professional with install and program it on the controller. Although forecasts are typically quite accurate in predicting rain events, during the middle of the summer isolated, intermittent storms occur which are not forecast. With a functional rain sensor, irrigation is halted by the swelling of encased hygroscopic disks which shuts off the system for an irrigation cycle. Although rain sensors are not typically funded by grant money, they do complete a system and result in an additional 5 to 10% reduction in irrigation.

Homeowner Education

Educating the homeowner is performed by first walking the yard with him/her and discussing main system problems. Next, the Hydrawise app is installed on their phone and the functions of each of the main features is shown. They are taught at a minimum how to run and pause the zones, how the Hydrawise system works to adjust water usage, and who to call with Hunter if they have a technical problem.

Preparation Submission of the Yard Evaluation/ “Simple Audit” Report

The Irrigation System Evaluation (or “Simple Audit”) Report consists of a thorough presentation of all the field data collected on the system. Before and after runtime settings in each zone and the identified problems with the irrigation system are presented in table format. Next a recommendation section provides suggested adjustments, replacements, and repairs to their system. Finally, anticipated water savings for a 24-week season (typical for the Minneapolis metropolitan area) is shown. This is accomplished by calculating the baseline water usage for a 24-week season, subtracting the 35% saved by a Smart Controller, the additional 25% saved by proper settings, and the additional 10% savings from a rain sensor if one is present.

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Backflow Testing

As a homeowner or other property owner, you are responsible for annual testing of your backflow devices.  You also are responsible for ensuring your irrigation system is not wasting precious drinking water.

We manage backflow testing programs for your water purveyor, including your test results and expiration timeframes.  We have search tools available for you to locate a state-certified testing contractor near you. 

Search for a certified backflow tester HERE.

 Why is testing backflows and cross connections so important?