01/27/2021 EB Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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1 ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD AGENDA ITEM 8A STAFF ORIGINATOR: Andy Nelson MEETING DATE: January 27th, 2021 REQUEST: Motion to recommend program TOPIC: Smart Irrigation Controller Program BACKGROUND: Fresh water is a finite resource. In our area, over 60% of water usage for a typical home is used for outdoor irrigation during the growing season. Of that water use, roughly 50% is wasted on overwatering, evaporation, and non-target watering. Depending on the assumptions plugged in to the water use calculator below, wasted fresh water could easily reach 150 gallons per house per day. One of the most powerful and easy to implement options to improve our water conservation efforts in the City involves increasing the efficiency of outdoor irrigation. Home water use calculator: https://www.home-water-works.org/calculator EPA-certified WaterSense smart irrigation controllers greatly reduce overwatering by tailoring irrigation system operation to local weather, plant type, soil type, slopes, and other factors. We have the ability to purchase around 100 Rachio 3 controllers using $20,000 from the Water Utility Fund. These controllers usually cost $230, but we’ll be able to purchase them for $190 at a bulk-rate discount. Residents will be able to purchase these controllers at a discounted rate of $38 each (20% of our cost). The Rachio 3 controllers were selected based on Wi-fi compatibility, the quality of the customer help-line, and ease of installation and operation. The City of Woodbury offered several controllers in their program and surveys returned by residents showed the Rachio 3 as the clear choice. The City of Hugo also offers Rachio 3 controllers and they have received positive feedback. This program could possibly be expanded in the future through acquisition of Met Council Clean Water Land and Legacy Amendment Grant funds, which would provide a 75% match and allow for the purchase of many more controllers. There is also the possibility of including an ordinance in City Code requiring that all irrigation controllers installed in new homes bear the WaterSense certification to further bolster our water conservation efforts.