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Participants from irrigation companies, water agencies and universities met on April 19 in Tampa, Fla. to discuss standards for the Environmental Protection Agency?EUR??,,????'?????<???EUR?s WaterSense program for irrigation controllers. Already in place for high-efficiency toilets, the certification program will reward qualifying irrigation controllers with the EPA?EUR??,,????'?????<???EUR?s blue-and-green WaterSense label that tells consumers the product has passed independent tests for irrigation efficiency.
The 83 participants at the April meeting traded ideas and questions about program particulars. It?EUR??,,????'?????<???EUR?s already certain that the federal WaterSense test standards will be modeled on the Irrigation Association?EUR??,,????'?????<???EUR?s existing text protocol for Smart Water Application Technologies, or SWAT.
?EUR??,,????'?????<?The industry has to be fully supportive of the standards for the program to work,?EUR??,,????'?????<? the EPA?EUR??,,????'?????<???EUR?s Stephanie Tanner said. ?EUR??,,????'?????<?Industry representatives had plenty to say about the existing SWAT protocol. We?EUR??,,????'?????<???EUR?re still working with the association?EUR??,,????'?????<???EUR?s technical committee to iron out the details for the WaterSense test.?EUR??,,????'?????<?
The goal, Tanner said, is to have the programs draft certification scheme formulated by the end of the year. Once released on the EPA?EUR??,,????'?????<???EUR?s web site, a six-month comment period will let professionals and others weigh in on the plan.
That timetable isn?EUR??,,????'?????<???EUR?t written in stone, and ?EUR??,,????'?????<?technical details?EUR??,,????'?????<? could throw that schedule off, Tanner said.
While the WaterSense label won?EUR??,,????'?????<???EUR?t appear on controllers for another year or two, the Irrigation Association?EUR??,,????'?????<???EUR?s related SWAT program has already reviewed Alex-Tronix, Calsense, Etwater, Hunter, Irritrol, Rain Bird, Toto Weathermatic and WeatherTRAK products.
And the EPA has already approved the WaterSense label for the IA?EUR??,,????'?????<???EUR?s Certified Irrigation Designer program and its Certified Irrigation Contractor program.
Learn more about the programs at www.epa.gov/watersense and www.irrigation.org/SWAT/Industry/ia-tested.asp
The Irrigation Association sponsors an existing independent, third-party test for ?EUR??,,????'?????<?smart?EUR??,,????'?????<? controllers. Currently the protocol is administered through the Center for Irrigation Technology (CIT), an independent testing laboratory, applied research facility and educational resource center based at California State University, Fresno. The objective is to evaluate how well current commercial technology has integrated the scientific data into a practical system that meets the agronomic needs of turf and landscape plants.
Each product evaluation is conducted by creating a six-zone virtual landscape subjected to real-time climate through monitoring of a selected weather station to evaluate the ability of individual ?EUR??,,????'?????<?smart?EUR??,,????'?????<? controllers to adequately and efficiently irrigate that landscape.
After initial programming and calibration, the controller is expected to perform without further intervention during the test period. Performance results indicate to what degree the controller maintained root zone moistures within an acceptable range:
?EUR??,,????'?????<??????? If moisture levels are maintained without deficit, it can be assumed the level of irrigation will be adequate to maintain the health and beauty of the landscape.
?EUR??,,????'?????<??????? If moisture levels are maintained without excess, it can be assumed that scheduling maximizes water-use efficiency.
EPA WaterSense labels won?EUR??,,????'?????<???EUR?t appear on controllers for another year or so, but the designation is already attached to Irrigation Association certificattion programs.
Certified contractors can display a special WaterSense partner label on ads and business cards.
The following certificates carry the label. Individuals certified in these programs and in good standing are eligible to apply to WaterSense as a partner. Good standing indicates that the individual has earned and submitted 10 Continuing Education Units along with a renewal fee by the renewal date on an annual basis.
?EUR??,,????'?????<??????? Certified Irrigation Contractor (CIC) ?EUR??,,????'?????<??????? Certified Irrigation Designer (CID) ?EUR??,,????'?????<??????????????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor (CLIA) ?EUR??,,????'?????<??????? Certified Golf Irrigation Auditor (CGIA)
For CLIA or CGIA certification earned before April 1, 2007: You will be eligible for partnership upon renewal for 2008. ?EUR??,,????'?????<??????????????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR Submit your application for WaterSense partnership after your next certification renewal. Complete the EPA WaterSense partner agreement for certified professionals at www.epa.gov/watersense/partners/eligibility.htm. ?EUR??,,????'?????<??????? Include proof of certification, which will be your renewal card issued in 2008. Cards are only issued for renewals received by the annual Jan. 31 renewal deadline.
For CLIA or CGIA certification earned after April 1, 2007: ?EUR??,,????'?????<??????????????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR Complete the EPA WaterSense partner agreement for certified professionalswww.epa.gov/watersense/partners/eligibility.htm. ?EUR??,,????'?????<??????????????(R)?EUR??,,????'?EUR??,,?EUR Include a copy of your certificate (required).
Learn more about smart irrigation and WaterSense certification at this year?EUR??,,????'?????<???EUR?s Irrigation Association event in San Diego. Show Dates: Dec. 9-11 Certification & Education: Dec 6-11 Location: San Diego Convention Center More Info: www.irrigation.org
?EUR??,,????'?????<?Smart?EUR??,,????'?????<? irrigation controllers provide an opportunity for landscape and irrigation professionals to expand their service offerings in the area of water use efficiency and conservation. Because the proper installation and initial setup of ?EUR??,,????'?????<?smart?EUR??,,????'?????<? irrigation controllers require knowledge of soils, precipitation rates, slope measurements and related factors, many water purveyors are recommending their customers work with an irrigation contractor who is specifically experienced in the installation of ?EUR??,,????'?????<?smart?EUR??,,????'?????<? irrigation controllers. And that represents new business opportunities.
1. Become a certified ?EUR??,,????'?????<?smart?EUR??,,????'?????<? irrigation contractor. Certified ?EUR??,,????'?????<?smart?EUR??,,????'?????<? irrigation contractors are trained specifically in the installation and maintenance of ?EUR??,,????'?????<?smart?EUR??,,????'?????<? irrigation controllers. For more information about IA-sponsored certification programs. Or check with your local water purveyor about special ?EUR??,,????'?????<?smart?EUR??,,????'?????<? certification programs they may be offering.
2. Learn about ?EUR??,,????'?????<?smart?EUR??,,????'?????<? controller discount incentives currently available to your clients. Many water purveyors offer ?EUR??,,????'?????<?smart?EUR??,,????'?????<? controller incentives to qualified residential and commercial customers. These incentives can help make upgrading to a ?EUR??,,????'?????<?smart?EUR??,,????'?????<? irrigation controller even more compelling to your clients.
3. Promote the benefits of ?EUR??,,????'?????<?smart?EUR??,,????'?????<? irrigation controllers to new and existing clients. Contact your local water purveyor for information and materials to help you make the case for ?EUR??,,????'?????<?smart?EUR??,,????'?????<? controllers.
30: Percent, the decrease on water consumption at two sites in Portland, Ore. after the installation of two weather-based irrigation controllers.
17: The number of Portland homes that could be served for one year if the one million saved gallons of water was allotted to them.
Source: Portland Water Bureau
Francisco Uviña, University of New Mexico
Hardscape Oasis in Litchfield Park
Ash Nochian, Ph.D. Landscape Architect
November 12th, 2025
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