As has been reported last fall and again a few weeks ago, local water rates are all rising, some more than others. As the Portland area grows, the need for more water is requiring capital projects to build pipelines to new water sources. Tigard and Lake Oswego have just completed theirs and their water rates are the highest currently. Beaverton and Hillsboro are embarking on a project which will rapidly increase their water rates over the next 10 years. See the links below for more information about several of the municipalities water rate increases.
The BAD NEWS:
Water rates continue to rise by 5-10% per year.
The GOOD NEWS:
Weather Based Irrigation Control can help reduce this skyrocketing expense.
Rainbird IQ provides 2-way communication and remote access to controllers. This allows quicker and more cost-effective programming and monitoring. In addition, IQ allows for optional flow sensing, increasing its value in detecting problems on an irrigation system before plant health symptoms show up.
If you have weather based control with Rainbird ET Manager, you should upgrade to Rainbird IQ. If you do not have weather based irrigation, you need to add it as it will help you mitigate the impact of the water rate increases.
THE NEW RAINBIRD IQ ALLOWS REMOTE MONITORING AND CONTROL
With the new
Rainbird IQ, an irrigation controller can be accessed from any computer, smartphone or tablet. This allows us to manage system control from anywhere, adjust programming as needed based on site needs and upcoming events, and trouble shoot hardware and delivery system without going to the physical controller. This is accomplished with Wi-Fi and cellular communication.
RAINBIRD IQ ALLOWS FOR FUTURE ABILITY TO MONITOR FLOW
An additional new technological advancement is flow sensing and control. Even with a properly programmed weather based controller, all is lost if the delivery system has a malfunction. Stuck or inactive valves, as well as pipe and head breaks are difficult to detect as most systems operate at night.
Flow monitoring allows a system to self evaluate and either shut down or send an alarm of a problem to help increase the timeliness of repair.
- Add an extra level of security to your irrigation system.
- Automatically closes the valve if break is detected.
- Automatically diagnoses problem flows and sends email alerts.
- Upload flow logs to track water use.
Rainbird IQ facilitates this flow monitoring and control but requires the installation of a Flow Meter and Master Valve. We will be evaluating sites that upgrade to Rainbird IQ and propose the installation and connection of Flow Meters and Master Valves as a part of future budgets.
