Know irrigation system rules and regulations

In some states, irrigation systems must have rain sensors to be compliant. Yoni Wiss, a project manager at Hydro-Tech Irrigation in Haymarket, Virginia, notes that there are plenty of “illegal irrigation systems” out there, and some companies do not pull permits before installing sprinkler systems. “Or, after they do the installation there is no follow-up,” he says, referring to backflow testing.             

Aside from state requirements, counties and cities can have varying regulations regarding irrigation system rain sensors. “For us, we pull a permit for every job and make sure we are certified in every county we work in,” Wiss says.

While backflow prevention devices are required in Michigan where Kip Summers of Summers Irrigation operates, rain sensors are not mandatory. But, he wouldn’t tell a customer to buy a new system without one and he always recommends adding a rain sensor to an older system that lacks this technology. Sometimes, when selling the rain sensors, he will treat it as a “value added” and write the sensor into a new irrigation system bid as an incentive for the client to sign with his company. “Customers get so many quotes. If they are wishy-washy, we throw (the rain sensor) in there,” he says.

And, as Summers said, maintenance visits and annual irrigation checks are ideal times to talk to clients about upfitting their systems with rain sensors. Wiss adds that more customers are asking how they can save water with their irrigation systems, and this is an opening to talk about weather station controller benefits. “People are more interested in it now,” he says.

For landscape contractors who sub out irrigation installation and services, Wiss suggests making sure that the irrigation partner is on board with water-saving devices and understands regulations, too. And, communicate the information back to clients. “Make sure they are educated on how they can save water,” he says.