Sustainability-Focused Luxury Community Chooses Smart Irrigation Technology to Streamline Landscape Operations
“Wireless smart irrigation technology aligns perfectly with Crystal Cove’s mission of maintaining a sustainable community and creating a beautiful landscape, while reducing operating expenses at the same time.”
— Danny Smith
Irrigation Specialist, Park West
CHALLENGE: OUTDATED SYSTEM IN CONSTANT NEED OF REPAIR UNDER AND OVER WATERS LANDSCAPE
Nestled in the hillside within the beautiful Newport Coast area of Southern California lies the luxury lifestyle community of Crystal Cove. Known for its extensive offerings including parks, protected open space, a private club, and world-class golfing, Crystal Cove has earned its reputation for excellence. Managing this extensive, 500-acre common ground and maximizing the community’s water usage in the interest of sustainability is no small task.
Until recently, Crystal Cove had an outdated irrigation system from the 1990s, which included 267 individual controllers that were constantly in need of repair. Moreover, the controllers were hardwired and often lost communication. This led to some areas being under-watered, and others being underwater. With its expansive property and focus on meticulous manicuring, it was clearly time for Crystal Cove to update its irrigation system.
SO CAL WATER$MART REBATES
Crystal Cove’s landscape irrigation update was financed in part by a $285,000 rebate from SoCal Water$mart, a program operated by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. The rebate program offers significant incentives for commercial landscape operations:
- Standard incentive: $35 per station for either weather-based or soil moisture sensor-based irrigation controllers
- Enhanced incentive for public agencies: $55 per station
- Large rotary nozzles: $13 per set
- Rotating nozzles for pop-up spray heads: $2-3 each
SOLUTION: WEATHERTRAK STREAMLINES OPERATION, REDUCES WATER WASTE
Crystal Cove employed the help of Park West, a landscape management company whose client list includes LEGOLAND and Disneyland Drive. Park West replaced Crystal Cove’s 267 analog irrigation controllers with 186 high-station-count HydroPoint WeatherTRAK controllers. Because WeatherTRAK controllers can be managed remotely, Crystal Cove saves time, effort and money while significantly streamlining their operation. “The WeatherTRAK Mobile app allows us to review alerts, manually irrigate, turn controllers on and off, and pause for rain,” said Danny Smith, irrigation specialist at Park West.
The controllers were divided into three groups for more efficient management. “In less than 30 seconds, we can turn off 75 controllers in a certain area to increase water efficiency without turning off any other controllers throughout the property,” explained Smith.
The irrigation project not only provides Crystal Cove with streamlined water efficiency, but the smart irrigation at the heart of the system also reduces water waste.
“The HydroPoint wireless technology aligns perfectly with Crystal Cove’s mission of maintaining a sustainable community and creating a beautiful lifestyle environment while reducing expenses at the same time,” Smith said. “The project’s design allows us to better manage potential issues like mainline breaks or stuck valves and thereby mitigate the amount of waste water that would otherwise end up in our ocean.”
As an extra benefit, the Crystal Cove project was able to obtain an impressive $285,000 in rebates for implementing smart irrigation technology from SoCal Water$mart – a hefty win for everyone.
If you haven’t already done so, invest in water conservation outdoors. It’s one of the simplest sustainability investments you can make. HydroPoint is a leader in water conservation technologies. Here are 10 reasons to partner with us on smart water management.