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Resources and Info
> Watersmart Controllers
WATERSMART CONTROLLERS
HydroPoint’s
WeatherTRAK
irrigation solution has been tested and proven in the field for the
past 5 years. If you are serious about water conservation or
reducing nonpoint source water pollution caused by landscape over
watering, we invite you to read the studies below and see how
HydroPoint and WeatherTRAK can help you.
If you have any further questions or would
like more information from a Park Landscape staff member, please
feel free to contact us.
Want to know more?
You can learn more about water smart
controllers by going to our
FAQ Page or by visiting the external links below:
Our FAQ page covers the following topics:
What is ET?
ET (EvapoTranspiration) is defined as the amount of
water used by a particular plant species (by transpiration) plus the
amount of water evaporated from the surface of the soil under
measured weather conditions. Usually these amounts are accumulated
for short periods of time such as a day or a week and then expressed
as an amount of rainfall that would be needed to replace the amount
used. If it doesn’t rain enough, then irrigation will be needed.
The WeatherTRAK irrigation controller uses this real-time ET data,
sent daily from the HydroPoint Data Center, to internally design
optimized irrigation schedules. The user does not have to bother
with creating schedules and typing them into the controller.
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Why
is ET important for my irrigation?
In most cases, user controllers are set to
over-water in the mistaken belief that the more water, the greener
the landscape. Few current technologies provide solutions to help
users avoid this scenario. Following proper location-specific ET
along with a proper irrigation schedule conserves water and promotes
healthy plant growth, in turn saving money while protecting your
landscape investments.
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How is ET measured?
ET is calculated by gathering various weather-driven
data points and running them through an ET formula that determines
the amount of water needed to replace the water that was lost from
the soil and plant due to local weather conditions. Among the
several ET formulas that utilize different weather data points,
HydroPoint uses the Penman-Monteith equation which has been adopted
as the worldwide standard for estimating plant water use by the Food
and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. This
formula uses solar radiation, temperature, wind and relative
humidity as the four weather data points that influence and
determine ET.
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How
often does the WeatherTRAK Controller get new ET readings?
The WeatherTRAK ET Controller is updated with the
local ET on a daily basis.
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Why is
real-time ET data so important for proper irrigation?
A landscape’s water needs are tied directly to the
local weather. Because weather is dynamic, regular adjustments to
your irrigation controller are needed to ensure that plants receive
the proper amount of water. Many sensitive plants and grasses can
become stressed and die if under-watered for just a single day. At
the same time, regular over-watering promotes poor rooting and
inadequate soil aeration leading to poor plant health and disease.
Over-watering will also increase water bills, deplete precious water
supplies and create runoff pollution endangering local watershed
areas and beaches.
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What is
the difference between Real-time ET and Historical ET?
Real-time ET, which is delivered by WeatherTRAK’s ET
Everywhere Data Service, uses actual daily weather readings to
provide adjustments to each WeatherTRAK Controller. Historical ET
looks at the historical average of weather conditions for larger
regions or areas. It then assumes that a historical average will be
representative of the actual weather and adjusts irrigation
accordingly. Analysis has shown that historical ET can be off from
actual ET as much as 100% over a given week – and as much as 225% on
a given day.
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What is the
WeatherTRAK Scheduling Engine?
The WeatherTRAK Scheduling Engine refers to the
software and user interface built into each WeatherTRAK ET
Controller. The Scheduling Engine walks the user through six simple
questions about their landscape. From the answers provided,
WeatherTRAK automatically calculates a scientific irrigation
schedule to minimize water use, reduce wasteful runoff and promote
healthy rooting for ALL of your plants, trees and turfs. In
addition, the Scheduling Engine incorporates daily weather data to
ensure that this schedule remains in tune with the changing weather.
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How do
I hook up the WeatherTRAK to my existing sprinkler timer?
You don’t. The WeatherTRAK totally replaces your
existing equipment. The wiring is exactly the same as a regular
timer and you will not need any new wires. Once installed, the
WeatherTRAK is programmed ONCE. After activation, it will then
automatically receive daily ET and generate station-specific
irrigation schedules for your landscape. And should you need
assistance, HydroPoint’s Customer Service is there to help you every
step of the way.
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Can I
manually control my WeatherTRAK?
Yes. With WeatherTRAK, users can take advantage of
the automatic settings or, if desired, can switch to the manual or
user program mode as needed. Returning to the automatic irrigation
setting is easily accomplished with the turn of a dial.
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How much
water will I save versus my old controller?
Studies have shown an average savings of 15% to 50%
on outdoor water use for both commercial and residential properties.
Your actual savings will depend on the size of your landscape and
your levels of over-watering caused by previously entered watering
schedules. Visit the Case Studies page to review more information on
examples of proven savings.
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How much
does the service cost?
WeatherTRAK’s ET Everywhere service for residential
and light commercial users using the 12 station controller is a mere
$4/month with the first two years included with the purchase of the
controller. For the WeatherTRAK ET Pro, the ET Everywhere service is
bundled with the WeatherTRAK.net Internet Service and the basic
service starts at $9.95/month, with one year coming with the
purchase of the controller.
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