WaterSense Draft Specification Released for Weather-based Irrigation Controllers
The revised specification is open for comment until March 21.
 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) WaterSense program has released the WaterSense Revised Draft Specification for Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers. EPA encourages all interested partners and other stakeholders to review and provide comments on the revised draft specification before March 21, 2011. EPA will host a webinar on February 23, 2011, to discuss the specification and answer questions.
Weather-based irrigation controllers have the potential to save significant amounts of water. An estimated 13.5 million irrigation systems are currently installed in residential lawns across the United States. Of the 13.5 million units installed, the majority use standard clock timer controllers. Replacing a standard clock timer controller with a WaterSense labeled controller could save more than 10,000 gallons of water per household annually—that's nearly 150 billion gallons per year across the United States.
The revised draft specification for weather-based irrigation controllers includes performance criteria to ensure the controllers can adequately meet landscape irrigation needs without overwatering. The revised draft specification addresses stand-alone controllers, add-on devices, and plug-in devices that create or modify irrigation schedules based on evapotranspiration (ET) principles.
Manufacturers, retailers, and distributors that produce or sell weather-based irrigation controllers will be invited to become WaterSense partners once EPA has processed and reviewed public comments on the revised draft specification. To allow ample time to plan for the production and promotion of WaterSense labeled products, EPA will notify all interested parties when the program is open for partnership before the release of the final specification.
Webinar Registration Information
To register for the morning session from 9 a.m. to noon (EST), visit: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/888296410
To register for the afternoon session from 1 to 4 p.m. (EST), visit: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/339830435
If you have questions about the WaterSense Revised Draft Specification for Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers, please contact the WaterSense Helpline at (866) WTR-SENS (987-7367) or e-mail watersense@epa.gov. To provide comments, please visit www.epa.gov/watersense. |
