A company called Irrigreen has developed an ingenious solution to minimize water usage for lawn maintenance. Watering lawns and gardens in the United States consumes a significant amount of water in households, reaching up to nine billion gallons per day nationwide.
Typically, about 30% of water in an average American household is allocated for outdoor use, which can increase to 60% in warmer regions like the southwest. Unfortunately, approximately half of this outdoor water is wasted due to evaporation, wind, or runoff.
To tackle this issue, Irrigreen has created a unique watering system that operates similarly to a printing process. This system accurately dispenses the precise amount of water required for a lawn while aligning the spray pattern with the lawn’s shape.
Utilizing specially designed software, the system calculates the surrounding surface area of each nozzle for every 0.8 degrees of rotation. This data is then utilized to adjust the nozzle’s speed and valve opening, ensuring an even distribution of the spray.
The system features fourteen different-sized streams, providing enhanced control over water volume, with stream sizes increasing to cover greater distances from the nozzle head.
Users can input their desired water coverage for the lawn, and the software generates an irrigation schedule that prevents overwatering. Additionally, the software incorporates local weather data to refine the watering schedule, acting as a lawn thermostat.
Irrigreen initially introduced this water-saving technology in 2014 and received recognition through the 2014 Product Innovation Award from Architectural Products magazine. Recently, the company secured $15 million in seed funding to further enhance its product and software, allowing homeowners to design custom watering systems and track water savings post-installation.
While smart watering systems already exist, Irrigreen distinguishes itself by improving the conventional overlapping arcs design, which often results in excessive water usage. According to the company, their system can potentially reduce household water consumption by up to 50%.
A study indicated that Irrigreen used 42.2% less water compared to traditional systems in 30 feet by 60 feet rectangular area, and achieved a 36.7% reduction in water usage within a 30-foot circular area. These adjustments prove instrumental in aiding homeowners to conserve water, particularly in regions experiencing water scarcity due to rising temperatures.
In California, the worsening water crisis has resulted in a 56% increase in water bills between January and June 2022. Consequently, Governor Gavin Newsom has appealed to water companies to encourage their customers to practice responsible water usage to combat water shortages.
By implementing Irrigreen’s system, households have the potential to save thousands of gallons of water annually. Such water conservation efforts align with addressing climate change concerns and promoting sustainable water management practices.