California?EUR??,,????'???s A.B. 1881: What You Need to Know

The ETwater Model 205 smart controller is a good example of what A.B. 1881 seeks to regulate and eventually mandate as the only controller type available for sale after 2012. It utilizes local weather stations linked over the internet to collect data for a horticulture science computer model that then makes irrigation schedule changes based on the model and plant material on-site. The 205 can manage 48 valves and comes with a three-year warranty. Source: ETWater

With water availability a growing issue, California legislation being finalized now will be affecting contractors in the near future. Here at LCN we decided to summarize the pending legislation.

Since the legislation is implemented by local ordinance the DWR model will be a guide to the minimum requirements in your area, but full details will only be available from your local officials. Also, since A.B. 1881 has a distribution date of January 31, 2009, all details in this column are subject to change.

Economic Incentives

Legislation drafts state that the bill should be encouraged with economic incentives, but what form these will take is unknown. Considering California?EUR??,,????'???s budget issues, whether the DWR will have the funds for economic incentives is questionable.

Another issue is how local municipalities will come into play. Most communities in the Los Angeles Metro, Greater San Francisco Bay, San Diego and, to a lesser extent, the Monterey Bay areas utilize economic incentives. These locales account for a major portion of all structures in California, and this could represent a huge sales opportunity if continued under A.B. 1881.

Controllers

After January 1, 2012, all controllers sold in California must meet the model ordinance?EUR??,,????'???s smart irrigation requirements. This means that the only products available for installation in-state after this date will be smart controllers, requiring a solid knowledge base in this technology to continue providing irrigation maintenance and installation services.

A major requirement of A.B. 1881 is that as of January 1, 2008, most new retail water service depends on the installation of a separate meter for landscape irrigation. Exceptions for single-family homes less than 2,500 square feet have been included. This places your work as a contractor under much more direct scrutiny. Source: Central Tablelands Water Source: Central Tablelands Water

Water Meters

As of January 1, 2008, most new retail water service is dependent on the installation of a separate meter for landscape irrigation. Exceptions for single-family homes less than 2,500 square feet have been included.

As a result, property owners and the city can directly quantify landscape irrigation water use. This means that the quality of your irrigation installation and maintenance on that and other new construction is under more direct scrutiny than in the past. New landscape irrigation systems also require the additional equipment, expense and installation time associated with another water meter.

Water Budget

New municipal water budgets also must be drawn up based on Maximum Allowable Water Allowance (MAWA). Current drafts state this number will be calculated based on local historical reference ET (EvapoTranspiration rate, in inches per month), an ET adjustment factor for plant type, landscaped area in square feet, conversion to billing units (e.g. 100 cubic feet) and irrigation efficiency.

Essentially, A.B. 1881 means California contractors will need to be knowledgeable about smart irrigation systems to work on new commercial and some residential sites by January 1, 2010. This legislation is also likely to encourage continued growth in the popularity of smart irrigation installations. Contractors throughout the nation should also be on the lookout regarding A.B. 1881, as it may be used as a precedent for similar legislation in your area.

Irrigation Insights

3: The recommended minimum number of independent programs on a controller when water efficiency is a priority.

1 to 200: Minutes, that recommended station run times for a controller used when water efficiency is a priority.

365: Days. The controller featured above would have a 365-day calendar, adjusted for leap years. Source: California Department of Water Resources