Current Methods of Outdoor Watering

by Aeon Matrix August 01, 2017

Current Methods of Outdoor Watering by Aeon Matrix

By Jack Lee

In the United States, outdoor water use alone averages more than 9 billion gallons of water each day, mainly for landscape irrigation. As much as 50% of this water is wasted due to overwatering caused by inefficiencies in traditional irrigation methods and systems. Smart irrigation technology may very well be the answer.

Let’s briefly review the 3 major types of current outdoor watering methods:

Traditional Manual Watering

◎	Garden hose with portable sprinkler head
◎	Transport hose(s) to a specific portion of the lawn
◎	Open valve
◎	All manual timing of water
◎	Shut valve
◎	Move sprinkler head to another area; repeat the process over and over until the entire property has been watered
◎	Entire apparatus needs to be rolled up for storage
◎	This method still continues to be a major method of watering
◎	Benefits: Water when personally convenient Watering with personal preference
◎	Disadvantages: Time consuming Water waste Burdensome, handling the apparatus on a regular basis Inexperience may lead to unbalanced distribution of water; some areas may get more, others less

Sprinkler with Time

◎	Control when and where lawns and gardens receive water coverage
◎	Area(s) may be over or under watered
◎	The application of water is now regulated with a fixed schedule of watering
◎	Water is directed to specific areas that have been automatically programmed via the timer
◎	Manually setting via the start/stop switch when the user feels that not enough water has been administered
◎	Benefits: Less water waste Minimal human intervention Watering at opportune times Results with a cost savings by limiting frequency of watering and the amount of water per event Provides some degree of peace of mind knowing that the property is watered without constant monitoring
◎	Disadvantages: Human intervention is still needed to adjust the timer for weather conditions Water may run (and clearly be wasted) when it is raining outside Areas may be over or under watered Inability to adjust to varied weather conditions

Multi-Functional Smart Sprinkler Control

◎	Total automation and control of all aspects of field irrigation
◎	Determine optimal manner to water the lawn and/or garden with current local weather data, your personal lawn and garden profiles and local water restrictions Then, leave it alone if you wish
◎	Individual zone control of your property with customization
◎	Collects rain data and forms a history
◎	Prevents water run-off on property
◎	Managed by a smart phone app
◎	Built-in Wi-Fi connectivity
◎	Leave the control of your watering to the controller or intervene any time and any where; at the office, on vacation, inside the home
◎	Approved by the EPA to save water
◎	Easy to install the device; app is easy to install on your smart phone
◎	No additional cost for future software updates; downloaded from cloud technology
◎	Includes a 2 nd capability Constant watch, home security via a built-in, 24/7 digital night-vision camera from any location Confirm child comes home from school Identify an intruder Alerted, to an animal presence Real-time video streaming Push notification if the system senses an intruder No installation needed
◎	Benefits: “2 smart devices” for the price of 1 Optimal watering efficiency Top savings in time and energy Access to local weather data Access to a Water Restrictions database Saves time and money Conserves significant amounts of precious water 100% peace of mind Monitor activities in your garage or yard 24/7 from the convenience of your smart phone Watch your property any time and from any where Provides additional home security and safety
◎	Disadvantages: The investment for this device may cost more than a timer but will yield its savings immediately Not getting this smart device sooner to best manage the watering needs of a property

How may we best conserve our water resources for our communities and generations to come while still have the capability to beautify our lawns and gardens? If you want to become an active part of the solution, please go to www.yardian.com for further information and details.