Concerned for the quality of water in their area, the Duss family is pitching in for the environment. They were among the first to sign on for a free, satellite-controlled irrigation system that city officials hope will eventually reduce water runoff, complete with pesticides and fertilizer that flows into the ocean.

A $300,000 grant from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation will fund the city’s program, which focuses on the Newport Coast development, where approximately 24 million gallons of contaminated water runs off into the protected marine habitat monthly.

The program is voluntary, first come, first served, and the grant will cover about 500 installations of new controllers.

Someday, ordinances may be passed requiring these systems, but so far, the effort has been made voluntary and the water board has not set a specific deadline for stopping the runoff.

The system is run by a type of cyborg gardener that keeps track of the sprinkler, by sorting through a database on soil type, slope, sunshine and plant cover in each individual yard and communing with a satellite about the weather. This is not exactly new technology, but a citywide program targeting residential homes is a new approach to dealing with the runoff problem.

The system will control the individual valves in home sprinkler arrays. Each valve turns water flow on and off for a series of sprinkler heads.

The controller has been loaded with information about the types of plants in the yard and will adjust its timing accordingly. Shaded areas will be watered less than sunny areas, plants on a slope get their water in spurts so the soil can soak it up and prevent waste.

The satellite link monitors the weather so that if an area receives rain, the system will take a break, and the homeowner can alter the system is they choose, but it is designed to be hands-off.

Another similar program by the Municipal Water District of Orange County, offers rebates to homeowners throughout the majority of the county for installing “smart” sprinkler systems, but is not free. These systems are loaded with historic weather data so that they can help regulate water usage and reduce runoff based on what is expected in a specific season.

It is important to note, however, that the systems must be checked because they can be linked to old irrigation, so repairs can be necessary, still they are an improvement.