FALLS CHURCH, Va. – The Smart Water Application Technologies partnership, known as SWAT, has announced several advances in its testing protocol program.
An initiative of the Irrigation Association, SWAT is a partnership of water purveyors and irrigation industry representatives created to promote efficient landscape irrigation technologies through product performance testing.
Rainfall shutoff devices are now eligible for SWAT testing, offered in conjunction with the University of Florida under the direction of Michael D. Dukes, associate professor and irrigation specialist.
Testing is expected to begin in early May and will be measured against the SWAT Third Draft Testing Protocol (Oct. 2009). Rain sensors join “smart” controllers (climate- and sensor-based) as the first two types of products available for testing.
Additionally, two new testing protocols are currently in development.
At North Carolina State University (Raleigh, N.C.), Garry Grabow is developing a testing protocol for pressure regulating sprinklers. And Kelly Kopp at Utah State University (Logan, Utah) is writing a protocol for multiple-stream multiple-trajectory sprinklers.
Initial draft protocols will be available for public review this summer; developers expect second drafts to be completed by the end of 2010.
To review protocols or for more information, visit www.swatirrigation.org .
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