‘Smart’ watering systems mandated for new irrigation, new homes, major rehabilitations

PALM BEACH, Fla. – Effective immediately, smart irrigation systems which conserve water through the use of ground-moisture sensors are required whenever new lawn-watering systems are installed, whenever new houses are constructed and whenever existing homes undergo a rehabilitation of 50 percent or more of their structure.

The Town Council approved Ordinance 22-10 by a unanimous vote Tuesday.

The step was endorsed by the Civic Association of Palm Beach, which has conducted a campaign to educate property owners about the water-saving devices for more than a year. The devices monitor soil moisture to prevent overwatering during periods of heavy rainfall.

The controllers must be evapotranspiration-based — meaning they calculate soil moisture by monitoring the weather and on-site conditions. Using that data, they automatically adjust the irrigation schedule to give lawns and gardens enough water to maintain soil moisture.

One impetus for the town law is a state law mandating the use of moisture-sensing devices whenever property owners install irrigation systems. The council’s ordinance is more stringent than the state regulation, which goes into effect Oct. 1, because of the requirement for an irrigation system upgrade when half or more of a structure is rehabilitated.

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