• City of Santa Clarity to install WeatherTRAK central irrigation control systems projected to save 180 million gallons of water annually
PETALUMA, CA, Feb. 23, 2010 -- HydroPoint Data Systems Inc. announced today that it is partnering with the City of Santa Clarita to roll out the world's-largest Smart Water Management implementation. Santa Clarita is replacing inefficient irrigation timers with HydroPoint WeatherTRAK® Internet-enabled, central-control irrigation systems for 700 acres of the City's Landscape Maintenance Districts, including parks, medians and streetscapes. For the initial phase, this equates to an annual water savings of approximately 20-40 million gallons. Upon completion of the Irrigation Controller Replacement Program, models predict overall water savings to exceed 180 million gallons annually with the installation of over 400 controllers.
Santa Clarita, a thriving municipality with a track record of successfully applying technology to address environmental challenges, is motivated by the opportunity to reduce operating expenses and set an example of water stewardship for locals and water providers alike. The WeatherTRAK systems will enable the City to automate compliance with new water use legislation, including the state of California's mandate that urban per capita water consumption be reduced 20 percent by 2020.
Dwindling water supplies and rising water rates escalate budget tension for Santa Clarita along with other U.S. cities. By reducing the cost of irrigating City facilities by 25 to 40 percent, Santa Clarita will gain budget relief in the current fiscal year. As water rates continue their rise, savings will increase in value in future fiscal years, accelerating the City's return on investment timeline to between four and six years.
While Santa Clarita's previous irrigation system required manual adjustments each time the local weather changed, including during rain events, the WeatherTRAK solution dynamically adjusts watering schedules as conditions warrant. Additional scheduling changes can be made remotely from any location with Internet access. More feature-rich and intuitive than first-generation central-control products, the WeatherTRAK system eliminates the need for customers to purchase and maintain costly weather stations, dedicated computer equipment, proprietary software, FCC licenses, telephone lines, wireless transmitters, repeaters and receivers.
The City's selection of the WeatherTRAK solution followed a comprehensive qualification process and review of central control irrigation systems. Numerous technologies were field-tested on landscapes with dedicated water meters to effectively measure water savings and plant health. Over a six-month evaluation period, WeatherTRAK controllers achieved the sites' water conservation potential, maximizing water and cost savings. At the same time, park patrons reported improved landscape appearance and usability.
"Santa Clarita is committed to environmentally and financially sustainable water efficiency, especially as California faces ongoing drought conditions and rising water costs," said Santa Clarita's Mayor Laurene Weste.
"Santa Clarita is setting a positive example for the community it serves and water providers at large," said Paul Ciandrini, president and CEO, HydroPoint. Mr. Ciandrini continued, "We expect that Santa Clarita's program will inspire other cities to redouble their efforts to stretch constrained water supplies by making the most of what they have."
About HydroPoint Data Systems Inc.
HydroPoint, founded in 2002, is the market and technology leader in Smart Water Management. The company's WeatherTRAK solution uniquely delivers a multitude of financial and environmental benefits by revolutionizing management of the area of greatest waste in urban water use: landscape irrigation. Proven in 23 independent studies, including the vanguard pollution runoff study led by the EPA, the WeatherTRAK solution saves water, reduces energy demand and protects water quality while it minimizes liability and expense exposure. In 2009 alone, WeatherTRAK subscribers saved 11.3 billion gallons of water, 45 million kilowatt hours and 60 million pounds of CO2. Facing water rates ranging from $2 to $6 per 1,000 gallons and additional related expenses due to overwatering damages ranging from $500 to $10,000 per site, leading companies across the U.S. have identified WeatherTRAK as the green initiative with the fastest payback. Headquartered in Petaluma, Calif., HydroPoint is privately owned and operated. For more information, visit www.hydropoint.com.
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