The system consolidated 58 pre-existing controllers into 52 weather based evapotranspiration smart controllers. All city-owned and managed facilities such as street parkways, medians, city parks and freeway interchanges have been upgraded to the new system.

The overarching goals of the citywide Smart Irrigation Control System is to reduce water used by the City of Calabasas for landscaping purposes by a minimum of 20% while significantly reducing the amount of urban run-off entering both of the watersheds the City of Calabasas straddles.

The City of Calabasas began this project before the onset of the State of California's worst drought in recorded history. Water conservation is now an issue of greater importance in California, landscape irrigation is harder and harder to justify as sub-surface water supplies are strained. This technology is essential for the reduction water waste and consumption.

Phase two was completed and ready for use in January 2015, and constitutes a major upgrade and expansion of reclaimed water irrigation system on Thousand Oaks Boulevard. Approximately 3 1/2 acres of parkways and medians, 11,000 linear feet of new recycled (purple) irrigation pipe were installed; six remote control valves (RCV) were added; deep watering bubblers were installed on both sides of all trees; and 1,500 drip bubblers were installed for shrub and plant irrigation of the landscaped right of way area.

Benefits:

• ICentral sends daily Evapotranspiration (ET) data to controllers that adjust watering durations for each region.
• Local weather satellites can send controllers real time weather information that can be used to calculate appropriate irrigation durations per station-.
• Each controller can be accessed using a computer, tablet, or Smartphone to remotely shutdown and activate during rain events as needed.
• Some controllers with master valves and flow sensors will shut down automatically if there is a broken line or irrigation heads show an excess flow.
• Each controller can alert via email and text if there are any problems with communication, excess flow, or scheduling changes.
• Water savings annually can be up to 15-20% with smart controllers.
• Less use of potable water and expanded use of reclaimed water.

Related Links:

Evaluation of California Weather-Based "SMART" Irrigation Controller Programs

Water Conservation Potential Of Landscape Irrigation Smart Controllers