Smart Irrigation Month

What is Smart Irrigation?

Smart irrigation is all about efficiency.  Smart irrigation systems monitor environmental conditions and adjust system runtimes automatically based on plant water requirements.

Be a Smart Irrigation Expert

Automatic irrigation systems offer convenience and control in protecting your landscape, keeping it healthy and beautiful and allowing for your enjoyment of this space. However, many property owners tend to overwater their landscape and waste water through inefficient habits. Adopting water smart habits is essential to maintaining and extending your community’s water supply, especially during the warm summer months.

The key to efficient outdoor irrigation is applying just enough water, only when necessary and making smart landscaping choices. Smart water habits will result in a healthier lawn and landscape, conserves water and can help reduce your water bill.

Learn more about what you can do to have an efficient irrigation system, save water and money, and have a healthy, beautiful landscape.

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Getting Started

Hot, dry and arid sums up the average summer in southern Alberta. An automatic irrigation system is the most efficient way of watering your landscape, but if your system is not set up correctly, it can lead to overwatering and water waste. A properly designed and installed system will have a control panel that will be easily programmed to start the system during the cool, least windy part of the day, and can be easily adjusted for seasonal changes. Installing the system right the first time, will ensure you are efficient in the future.

  • Get your system designed by a professional

    The design of your irrigation system is extremely important and a certified irrigation designer (CID) will consider all landscape variables, including plant material, soil types, and directional exposure.

  • Get your system installed by a professional

    The installation should be completed by a certified irrigation contractor (CIC) who will ensure your system meets the requirements of your municipality, and industry standards.

  • Get a quote and know what is being installed

    Reputable companies will give you a written quotation outlining what they will be including in your system, and they will include specifications of the products they will be installing, ensuring you are educated on the equipment being installed. Always ask for water efficient products to maximize your water savings.

  • Hire certified

    Find a certified irrigation professional near you to get the job done right.

  • Limited budget? You can still irrigate efficiently

    Buy the most effective sprinkler that works on a hose, and place it on a timer so that it waters only for the required amount of time during the early morning hours. This will require moving the sprinkler around every night so you are able to water your entire yard at the best possible time of day.

Be a Smart Leader

Do your customers understand that efficient irrigation can save water and dollars? Become part of the Smart Irrigation Month campaign and position your company as a leader in water-saving practices with customers, business partners and peers. Whether your business is big or small or focused on agriculture, turf and landscape, or golf applications, there are many ways to participate in the Smart Irrigation Month campaign.

  • Promote

    the benefits of smart irrigation with new social media graphics that can be customized to meet your needs.

  • Add

    the new social media cover photos to your company profile or individual page.

  • Display

    the Smart Irrigation Month logo on your website, email signature, ads, customer presentations, field signs, invoices and more.

  • Include

    an article on irrigation best practices in your company newsletter.

  • Encourage

    sales and marketing staff to participate in dealer and distributor Smart Irrigation Month activities.

  • Host

    a live demonstration of water-saving irrigation technologies in the field or at your location.

  • Feature

    water-efficient products and services in displays, ads, promotions and product demos with the Smart Irrigation Month logo.

  • Use

    a banner, outside signage or counter sign to encourage customers to ask about how smart irrigation can save water and money.

  • Give awards

    to customers and/or business partners who promote water-efficient practices.

  • Encourage

    customers to make existing systems more efficient with easy retrofits, like rain sensors, moisture sensors and pressure regulators.

Be a Smart Leader

Do your customers understand that efficient irrigation can save water and dollars? Become part of the Smart Irrigation Month campaign and position your company as a leader in water-saving practices with customers, business partners and peers. Whether your business is big or small or focused on agriculture, turf and landscape, or golf applications, there are many ways to participate in the Smart Irrigation Month campaign.

  • Promote

    the benefits of smart irrigation with new social media graphics that can be customized to meet your needs.

  • Add

    the new social media cover photos to your company profile or individual page.

  • Display

    the Smart Irrigation Month logo on your website, email signature, ads, customer presentations, field signs, invoices and more.

  • Use

    statement stuffers with simple smart watering tips.

  • Include

    an article on irrigation best practices in your company newsletter.

  • Encourage

    sales and marketing staff to participate in dealer and distributor Smart Irrigation Month activities.

  • Host

    a live demonstration of water-saving irrigation technologies in the field or at your location.

  • Feature

    water-efficient products and services in displays, ads, promotions and product demos with the Smart Irrigation Month logo.

  • Use

    a banner, outside signage or counter sign to encourage customers to ask about how smart irrigation can save water and money.

  • Give awards

    to customers and/or business partners who promote water-efficient practices.

  • Encourage

    customers to make existing systems more efficient with easy retrofits, like rain sensors, moisture sensors and pressure regulators.

Smart Systems

Saving water is in every property owner’s best interest, and efficient water use saves money and helps conserve the local water supply at the same time. Irrigation systems need to be maintained and updated on a regular basis to operate at peak efficiency. Your certified irrigation contractor (CIC) can tell you what components are best suited to your system and offer the greatest benefit. Things to consider for system maintenance and upgrades:

  • Add "Smart" Technology

    Climate or soil moisture sensor-based controllers evaluate weather and soil conditions and adjust watering schedules to meet the needs of your landscape.

  • Seasons Change, So Should Your Schedule

    Adjust the watering schedule regularly to conform to seasonal weather conditions.

  • Inspect Your System Monthly

    Check for leaks, broken or clogged sprinkler heads, and other problems. Clean clogged screens and micro-irrigation filters as needed.

  • Adjust Sprinkler Heads

    Remove or correct obstructions that prevent sprinklers from distributing water evenly. Adjust sprinkler head positions and spray patterns to avoid watering sidewalks or structures and to provide necessary clearance over growing plants.

  • Play Zone Defense

    Schedule each individual zone in your irrigation system to account for the type of sprinkler, sun or shade exposure, and the soil type for the specific area.

  • Watch the Clock

    Water when the sun is low or down, winds are calm and temperatures are cool, Watering in the evening or during the early morning is ideal to reduce water waste. As much as 30 percent of water applied to a landscape can be lost to evaporation by watering mid-day.

  • Check the Pressure

    Pressure can change over time and negatively affect system efficiency.

  • Inspect System for Leaks

    Leaks are a huge water waster. A CIC can perform regular maintenance checks for leaks, broken or clogged spray heads, and other problems. Ask them to show you common problems to watch for between visits.

  • Install a Rain Shutoff Switch

    This inexpensive device can be added to almost any system and will automatically override the system settings to prevent watering when it rains.

  • Install Micro-irrigation

    Micro irrigation applies a very small amount of water, slowly and precisely, minimizing evaporation, run off and overspray. Your irrigation professional can tell you if micro irrigation is suitable for any of your existing irrigation zones.

  • Have Your System Audited

    Hire a Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor (CLIA) to conduct an irrigation audit and uniformity test to verify all areas are being watered evenly and appropriately, and make necessary adjustments.

  • Winterize in Colder Climates

    An irrigation contractor with specialized equipment will flush out water that could freeze and crack pipes, valves and sprinklers.

  • Contact a Certified Irrigation Professional

    to ask about these and other upgrades that would work best for you.

Smart Landscapes

  • Landscape to Suit Your Lot

    Choose drought tolerant grass species or plants that have low water requirements and will thrive in your local climate. Consider your lot’s exact features, including sun and shade, dry and damp areas, plant size, and how you plan to use each section of your yard.

  • Keep Soil Healthy

    Aerating your lawn and around trees at least once a year helps improve water penetration. When planting, turn and cultivate the soil and add compost or fertilizer to improve moisture retention and grow healthier plants that need less water to stay strong.

  • Know Your Soil Type

    Different soil types have different infiltration rates, which will affect the amount of water necessary to keep the landscape healthy. On heavier clay soils water run off can occur earlier than in lighter sandy soils that will require more frequent irrigation.

  • Mulch Well Around Plants, Bushes & Trees

    Using 2 to 4 inches of mulch reduces evaporation, moderates spikes and lows in soil temperatures, improves water penetration and helps control weeds that compete for water.

  • "Hydro-Zone" Your Yard

    Grouping plants with similar moisture needs in the same area makes it easier to make sure they get the water they need without overwatering. Separate plants from grassy areas, which have different water requirements.

  • Plant in Spring or Fall

    Avoid summer, when hotter temperatures mean plants need more water to become established.

  • Save Grass for Functional Areas

    Plant grass in play zones and other areas where it will be used and enjoyed. Instead of planting turf on steep slopes or other hard-to-water spaces, consider ground cover, perimeter plants or mulch.

  • Plant Shade Trees

    The shade they cast creates natural “air-conditioning,” lowering air and soil temperatures, and reducing soil moisture loss.

  • Maintain Your Yard Regularly

    A well-maintained yard requires less water, so weed, prune and mow as needed.

  • Less Is More

    Saturate root zones and let the soil dry. Watering too much and to frequently results in shallow roots, weed growth, disease and fungus.

  • Contact a Certified Irrigation Professional

    customers to make existing systems more efficient with easy retrofits, like rain sensors, moisture sensors and pressure regulators.

Be an advocate for Smart Irrigation!

Each year the CPCIA brings public awareness to water use efficiency by encouraging city, provincial and federal governments to recognize Smart Irrigation Month.

This promotes the need for effective water management, helps educate citizens about local water issues, highlights community specific solutions to addressing water management and encourages homeowners, businesses, farmers and other water users to maintain and improve their irrigation systems.

View All Proclamations
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Mayor Nenshi Proclaims July 2018 "Smart Irrigation Month"