MILLIONS HAVE UNDERGROUND
SPRINKLE SYSTEMS TO HELP YOUR
GRASS SURVIVE AND FLOURISH.
HOW CAN YOU GET YOUR LAWN
LOOKING LUSH WHILE CONSERVING
WATER AND SAVING MONEY.
WE FOUND FOUR TIPS TO ACHIEVE
BOTH.
YOU ARE LOOKING AROUND AT
YOUR NEIGHBORS.
Reporter: EVERY SPRING CHRIS
WALLACE INSPIRES TO HAVE A
LUSH, GREEN YARD WHERE HIS SON
AND GROWING FAMILY CAN PLAY.
IT IS WHAT EVERYBODY
INSPIRES TO DO.
TO HAVE THE YARD YOU CAN USE
AND ENJOY WITHOUT TOO MUCH
EXTRA WORK.
Reporter: UPON MOVING INTO
THIS TWIN CITIES HOME, THE
WALLS ADDED AN IN-GROUND
IRRIGATION SYSTEM.
ACCORDING TO THE EPA HALF OF
WATER USED OUTSIDE OF THE HOME
IS WASTED.
AN IRRIGATION SYSTEM THAT ISN'T
PROPERLY MAINTAINED CAN WASTE
UP TO 25,000 GALLONS A YEAR.
CONSERVE A YEAR IRRIGATION
WALKS WALL THROUGH ADJUSTMENTS
A YEAR.
THE VICE PRESIDENT OFFERS
ADVICE AND WAYS HOMEOWNERS CAN
CONSERVE WATER AND SAVE MONEY.
SIMPLE DIY THINGS TO DO
YOURSELF.
Reporter: FIRST IS MAKE SURE
YOUR REQUIRED RAIN SENSOR IS
WORKING.
IT TURNS THE SYSTEM OFF.
IT PAUSES IT.
IT WILL NOT WATER FOR A CERTAIN
PERIOD OF TIME AFTER THE RAIN.
Reporter: BEFORE YOU TURN
YOUR SYSTEM ON THROUGH -- ON
FOR THE YEAR LOOK THROUGH IT
HEAD BY HEAD.
IF YOU USE A TIMER OPTIMIZE IT.
MAKE SURE IF YOU ARE
WATERING YOU ARE ABIDING
MUNICIPAL LAW.
ADDITIONALLY THAT YOU ARE
WATERING THE RIGHT AM OF -- AM
AMOUNT OF WATER.
Reporter: THE REAL
CONSERVATION IN SAVINGS COME
FROM ADDING SMART TECHNOLOGY.
THAT'S WHAT THE WALLS CHOSE.
WE NOTICED THE FRONT YARD
WAS DRYING OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF
THE SUMMER.
NO MATTER HOW HARD WE IRRIGATED
IT IT DRIED OUT.
THE BACKYARD WAS REALLY WET.
WE NEEDED A SYSTEM TO CONTROL
FROM FRONT TO BACK.
Reporter: A HOMEOWNER CAN
HAVE AN EXISTING SYSTEM
RETROFITTED WITH A SMART
CONTROLLER.
WHAT TYPE OF TURF, WHAT KEEP
OF SLOPES, SUN SHADE FACTORS,
PLANT MATERIAL.
ALL THOSE GREAT THINGS, WE
PROGRAM THAT IN.
Reporter: IT ALLOWS EACH
ZONE IN THE LANDSCAPE TO BE
WATERED DIFFERENTLY.
A WATER SENSOR REPLACES THE
RAIN SENSOR TO WATER ONLY WHEN
NEEDED.
IT RECORDS DAY LIGHT
ACTIVITY AS WELL AS RAINFALL.
PROFESSIONAL IRRIGATION PEOPLE
COME OUT ADJUSTING IT UP OR
DOWN.
SAVES 60% OF WATER USAGE.
Reporter: HE'S NOTICED A
DIFFERENT ON HIS LAWN AND HIS
WATER BILL.
WE SPEND ENOUGH MONEY ON THE
WATER.
ONCE THEY SET IT WE FORGET IT.
Reporter: A HOMEOWNER CAN
CHOSE TO INSTALL PRECISION
SPRAY NOZZLES THAT USE 35% LESS
WATER.
OR ADD DRIP LINES TO ADD WATER
DIRECTLY TO PLANTS ROOTS
CUTTING DOWN ON OVERWATERING.
ALL THESE THINGS ADD UP AND
PUTS MONEY BACK IN YOUR POCKET.
A SMART CONTROLLER CAN RUN
FROM $475 TO $675 TO HAVE IT
INSTALL.
THE LESS IF YOU DO IT ON YOUR
OWN.
IT IS ONLY $250.
DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH WATER YOU
USE, HOMEOWNERS MAKE THEIR
MONEY BACK WELL BEFORE THE
USUAL
FIVE-YEAR WARRANTEE EXPIRES.
YOU HAVE A SMART CONTROLLER.
I DO.
I HAD AN EXISTING IRRIGATION
SYSTEM RETROFITTED WITH THE
SMART CONTROLLER.
HAVE YOU NOTICED A
DIFFERENCE?
YES.
MY WATER USE HAS GONE DOWN.
IT USES A BELL CURVE IN
WATERING.
I DON'T HAVE MY SYSTEM ON YET
BUT WHEN IT GOES ON IT WILL
WATER LESS IN MAY.
IN JUNE AND JULY IT WILL WATER
MORE.
MOST SPRINKLES ARE JUST ON OR
OFF.
A LOT OF THE SAVINGS CAN BE IN
YOU HAVE A LEAK AND YOU ARE
LEAKING WATER.
THE CITIES CHANGE THE WAY THEY
CHARGE PEOPLE FOR WATER.
THE MORE YOU USE YOU GO INTO A
DIFFERENT TIER WHERE YOU PAY
MORE MONEY.
IT IS A REAL MOTIVATOR.
YOU HAVE THE MOTIVATION TO NOT
WASTE WATER.
WHEN YOU GET THE SPRINKLE BILL
IN THE SUMMER YOU CAN FEEL IT.