You can drive around most any urban area where it is necessary to add water to landscapes in order to keep them alive, and you will see a lot of wasted water. First, there are the watering systems that are not adjusted resulting in the water being sprayed more on sidewalks and streets than on the lawns or ornamentals.

Then, you have the never-ending cycle of broken sprinkler heads. You can spot them a ways off – just follow the the stream of water running down the street until you reach the bubbling fountainhead along the edge of someone’s lawn. And let’s not forget the sprinklers running in the rain. In other times all of this would be somewhat laughable, but as water becomes more scarce, and clean water becomes even scarcer, they are sad testaments to a consciousness that hasn’t kept up with the times. The days of using all we want of just about everything that’s available are drawing to a close, and it’s no different with water.

Now, it won’t be long before your municipality, or your HOA, will be able to control your irrigation system remotely. And so will you. The result should be a lot less wasted water, and the tools that will make this possible are just now emerging.

WaterOptimizer is a smart irrigation system that only uses water when it’s needed and only in the quantities needed. The company claims the systems can save 70 percent of the irrigation water that is typically used on landscapes. For municipalities it means they can now manage heavy water users and reduce peak water requirements. Homeowners and business owners can use only the absolute minimum amount of water needed to keep the landscape alive.

Builders and developers can use these systems not only to lower costs of inventory waiting to turn, but also as environmentally responsible building features. Landscape architects can smooth out the sticking points related to the balance of plantings and local water regulations.

But perhaps most important, less water will be wasted. That’s a good thing. Right?

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