WBIC Program Weather Based Irrigation Controllers

Transcription

1 WBIC Program Weather Based Irrigation Controllers SF Conservation Showcase March 25, 2008 by Roy Sikes and Ron Duncan Soquel Creek Water District Outline Background Program Description Findings Lessons Learned Conclusions and Recommendations Zero Impact Water Offset Program 1

2 Soquel Creek Water District Medium sized (~50,000 customers) Only groundwater Sustainable yield ~ 4,800 acre ft/year Issues overdraft & saltwater intrusion Soquel Creek Water District in Santa Cruz County Soquel Creek Water District Zero Impact Water Offset Program 2

3 Goal: Keep the ocean at bay Avoid well closures Program Overview U.S. Bureau Reclamation matching grant Installed 325 WBICs Cost - $218,790 (split 50/50) Zero Impact Water Offset Program 3

4 Goal Decrease landscape water use Zero Impact Water Offset Program 4

5 Objectives 1. Introduce and test new technology 2. Increase efficiency 3. Promote collaboration 4. Promote interagency coordination Program Design Step 1 - Researched previous programs Step 2 - RFQ for landscape contractors Step 3 - RFP for controllers Zero Impact Water Offset Program 5

6 Program Implementation Step 4 Program promotion Step 5 Customer selection Step 6 Controller installation Zero Impact Water Offset Program 6

7 Installations 179 sites 193 controllers installed 1,821,320 square feet of landscaped area Installation Details 45 sites dedicated irrigation service with 1,505,820 square feet of landscaped area 134 sites mixed use/single family residential with 315,500 square feet of landscaped area. Zero Impact Water Offset Program 7

8 2,020 valves connected, averaging 10.4 valves per controller Other Water Agencies participation City of Santa Cruz installed 4 controllers Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency installed 7 controllers Zero Impact Water Offset Program 8

9 Estimated water savings 1 Theoretical method Water savings calculated on landscape square footage irrigated by WBIC Applied standard assumed water savings to landscape square footage Estimated water savings 2 Real usage data, weather modified 4 accounts under WBIC Usage adjusted for weather Zero Impact Water Offset Program 9

10 Estimated water savings 3 Control group comparison Four dedicated accounts under WBIC compared against average usage of 123 non-wbic irrigated landscapes Preliminary Water Saving Estimates Meter Acco unt 2005 Consu mption (units) 2007 Cons umpti on (units) Raw Data % consumption change from 2005 vs 2007 Weather Adjusted Modeled Results: % Irrigation change from 2005 vs 2007 Control Group Modeled Results: % Irrigation change from 2005 vs % -67% -73% % -10% 13% % -5% 21% % -15% 5% Averages 13% -24% -9% Zero Impact Water Offset Program 10

11 Saved water costs Total project cost: $218,790 Theoretical projected water savings cost is $1,300 per acre foot Real consumption, weather adjusted and blind comparison cost is closer to $2,600 per acre-foot Customer experience 12 Cancellations Five (5) customers found the waiting period to be too long Four (4) customers did not respond to contact attempts Three (3) customers opted-out after scheduling installation Zero Impact Water Offset Program 11

12 Customer experience 22 Call backs 2 Large landscapes (greater than 1 acre) 20 Residential and small landscapes Lessons Learned Not all sites will benefit from or accommodate the use of a WBIC Give-away programs may not be all that effective Customer service duties require substantial staff time Zero Impact Water Offset Program 12

13 Recommendations 1. Have one point person 2. Create clear, understandable forms 3. Require an enrollment fee Zero Impact Water Offset Program 13

14 Recommendations 4. Require a pre-site installation survey administer the program 5. Match controller to site Conclusions Program objectives met Four landscape contractors are now familiar with WBIC technology s strengths and limitations 1.8 million square feet of WBIC irrigated landscape available for ongoing study Zero Impact Water Offset Program 14

15 Conclusions Program objectives met Program information will be shared among agencies Performance feedback to landscapers Quantified landscape irrigation water and cost savings Thank you Zero Impact Water Offset Program 15

16 Questions? Zero Impact Water Offset Program 16