Smart Irrigation Month was launched in 2005 by the Irrigation Association to raise awareness of smart irrigation products and best practices that will increase the efficiency of irrigation systems. After almost 20 years, one would think that anyone that installs, manages or owns an irrigation system would understand exactly what smart irrigation is, why the month of July is dedicated to it and why this is critical to the future of our industry. From my experience, I know that awareness is certainly growing, but it is not yet something that identifies us.
You would think that smart irrigation practices are a no-brainer, so why the struggle? Could it be that our workforce still doesn’t understand what the term really means? We see it thrown around a lot and one of the benefits from the market communication of today’s connected controllers usually has some message about smart watering benefits or saving water. Perhaps we and the end users don’t fully recognize that irrigation should only be used to supplement rainfall and that too much watering causes as many (or more) problems as underwatering? Or maybe the incredible controller technology that we have is hard to get dialed-in or too complicated or simply not trusted? Most likely, it is a combination of all of these as it is simply “easier” to keep doing what we have been doing all along.
A good first step for many of us is to make smart irrigation who we are.
A good first step for many of us is to make smart irrigation who we are. We need to own it. More and more, I am given the opportunity to consult on resolving problems with existing systems. I enjoy this role because I have the responsibility of providing the solution and that will be based on the best technology and best practices. I believe we should be very forward in providing the best solutions that are focused on making systems as efficient as possible. Even though we all have budgets that will likely be a constraint, that shouldn’t be the primary objective in solving system problems. Once your commitment and credibility are established, it can more easily make a water-efficient outcome the best choice.
Once our teams recognize that smart irrigation is personal and one of your organization’s values, it starts helping them understand their role in delivering this message and implementing best practices. This will need to be coupled with additional training and having the right tools, but it is important to have everyone rowing in the same direction to get started. Another tool for some companies is to track and show results. As we know, small, incremental changes in watering habits can quickly turn into millions of gallons of water conserved once we multiply those savings over many systems over time. Talk about the results. Many marketing campaigns have been built on the total impact of what they do (how many burgers served under those yellow arches?).
The biggest challenge might be getting the end users to get on board. We all probably recognize that many of our customers consider themselves experts in their watering needs. Ultimately, it is their property and their choice to schedule their systems as they want. However, it is our responsibility to make the correct recommendations. I would argue that this comparison is a stretch, but even though I can point out many times that I have ignored my doctor’s advice (or thought I knew best) over the years, I still want to believe and trust that she is giving me the best advice and is committed to my best interest. In many areas it is tough to present the benefits of smart irrigation in clear terms with return on financial investment. Many find it easier to rely on the simple approach of “this is the way things are done” and “this is why it is important” when presenting solutions.
The theme for Smart Irrigation Month this year is “We are smart irrigation.” Take a few minutes to think about what makes this personal. If you truly understand what smart irrigation is about and believe in why it is so important, it will make it a lot easier for your employees and professional network to get on board and certainly make it easier for them to get your clients on board, too.
