Cyber-Rain Blog

It's Smart Irrigation Month!

Happy Smart Irrigation Month! July is not only the first month of the year which falls entirely in the season of summer; it is also Smart Irrigation Month!

According to the Irrigation Association (IA), “Adopting water-savvy habits is essential to maintaining and extending your community’s water supply, especially during peak use.” This is precisely why the IA named July, a time of high heat and high water usage, as a month dedicated to learning more about smarter forms of irrigation.

The Cyber-Rain sprinkler controller system is one revolutionary way to save quite a bit of water, and observe Smart Irrigation Month. The typical Cyber-Rain user saves approximately 38% on their average water use. With rising water costs and cuts in supply, all water savings count this summer. Certain water districts are also considering putting a cap on the amount of water consumers will be allotted, above which they will have to pay more. For example, in Beverly Hills, starting today, a water ordinance will restrict residents to 90 percent of the water they typically used between 2004-2006, and residents who use additional water will be paying about twice as much.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 58% of household water use is dedicated to outside use, and that half of the 58% is wasted anyway. Why not let a Cyber-Rain sprinkler controller cut out that waste?

Particularly when each drop literally counts, you can’t go wrong by investing in the future, and helping reduce waste along the way.

And with the many rebates available through water districts to those who purchase the Cyber-Rain controller, the system can pay for itself well within one year.

In honor of Smart Irrigation Month, we would like to feature water-saving stories from our readers. Share with us what you do to save water on a typical day! Feel free to comment on the blog and send emails to SaveWater@cyber-rain.com. Visit us on Facebook or Twitter. We’d love to hear from you.

This week’s Water District of the Week is the West Basin Municipal Water District, located in Carson, CA. This district serves 185 square miles of land in southwest Los Angeles, and has been in existence for over 60 years. The WBMWD is notable for its dedication both to promoting water conservation through immediate incentives and promoting long-term water saving activities. This district also networks with local schools to promote water conservation and community-wide “environmental stewardship,” going above and beyond the call of duty.

Currently, this water district is encouraging consumers to save water by cutting down on approximately 10 to 15 percent of their average water use, which is roughly 20 gallons of water saved per day. This is in response to the Metropolitan Water District’s recent decision to put in place a special water conservation program, and a supply cut of 10%, in response to the third year of the statewide California drought.

A number of water districts have been offering programs to their consumers on how to save water in the backyard. The WBMWD offers a completely free “Ocean-Friendly Landscape” class, though interest participants must register to attend. There are plenty of interesting (and also free) programs on recycling water, purifying water, and showing how the water company does its magic!

Another fun thing to do when learning about the WBMWD is to take its virtual home conservation tour. Like the H20Use house, this is another fascinating and educational virtual tour, where anyone can learn useful ways in which to save plenty of water in the home, on a daily basis. Some of the tips include tips for the kitchen, including only running full dishwashers, as a load can take 20 gallons of water, and making sure one’s faucet is not dripping, as it can waste up to 20 gallons per day as well.

Outside, “the average Angelino uses 174 gallons per day” of water for watering plants, according to the water tour. This number can be cut dramatically by using lower-water use plants/native plants, which typically thrive on less water than a non-drought-tolerant plant, and some of these plants do not even need to be watered every day. Visitors are also encouraged to invest in “smart” sprinkler controllers, which can “save 47 gallons per day!” A smart controller makes a smart investment these days!

For all of its easily accessible material on water conservation, its hands-on programs for consumers and its incentives to conserve water, the West Basin Municipal Water District is this week’s Water District
of the Week.

The Stinking Iris

Though its name may not suggest it, the Stinking Iris may indeed be a desirable plant for your garden. This perennial is also known as the Iris foetidissima or the roast beef plant, and is a hardy plant that is known to thrive whether under extended shade or in sunny conditions. It is known for its hardiness and ability to survive in conditions which other plants may simply not be able to weather.

This colorful plant is not one which is expected to grow more than a few feet in height, though its lovely flowers can come in a variety of ravishing and bright colors, including red, yellow and purple.

According to Gardener’s World, the Stinking Iris can be planted throughout the year, and it actually only “stinks” if one crunches up the leaves of this plant. (However, if you are a fan of meat-y smells, some say the crunched leaves give off a meat-like aroma. You can test it out for yourself, and perhaps you may even like it!)

There are so many ways to save water on a daily basis, and planting lower water-use/hardy plants is a great way to save water. Planting more water-savvy plants and using a smart sprinkler controller such as Cyber-Rain can help save thousands of gallons of water each year, and between 30-70% of your average water use. Learn more at Cyber-Rain.com!

It’s summer: let us help you relax! One of the exciting new features of the Cyber-Rain XCI controllers is a watering wizard set-up tool which can assist users in following new city water restrictions. Once the Cyber-Rain smart sprinkler controller is installing, the set-up wizard will ask users for their specific locations (and of the physical nature of the user’s watering area), and use that information to create tailor-made weekly watering recommendations.

If you happen to live in a city with water restrictions in place, or receive your water from a municipality which has put in place certain water-use restrictions, you are in luck: no more complicated schedules changes, no more worrying about resetting the sprinkler system every day. While going through the Cyber-Rain set-up wizard, if you are living in an area with watering restrictions (i.e. you can only run sprinklers during certain hours of the day or are limited in your water use in various other ways), you can check the box that asks “Are there restrictions on days/times you can water?” and with a few details, the Cyber-Rain set-up wizard will take care of the rest! The watering restrictions box prompts you to check-mark those days when watering is restricted, and the Cyber-Rain system will only run your sprinklers on those selected days. You can also specify the particular hours during which water restrictions are in place, and can run sprinklers 0 to 4 times each day.

This is particularly useful, as many water districts and city water departments are turning towards heightened water conservation measures and water-use ordinances when dealing with drier conditions; this is particularly useful in California, which has been experiencing a statewide drought for three years now.

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, one of the largest water providers in all of the state, has been steadily encouraging consumers (both those directly serviced by the MWD and by the smaller municipalities which receive water from the MWD) to save water in a myriad of ways, one of which is to purchase smart irrigation systems which will cut down on water waste and excess water usage.

The City of Beverly Hills recently enacted water restrictions, and Oak Park (serviced by Triunfo Sanitation District) may soon turn towards user water restrictions as well. Simi Valley has been working on tweaking water ordinances as well, while the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District will begin implementing water restrictions next week, on July 1. This will directly affect consumers in various areas, including Westlake Village, Agoura, Hidden Hills and Calabasas.

We’d like to help you save water and save money, and the water restriction-friendly addition to the Cyber-Rain system is just one of many ways in which we can help. Visit the Cyber-Rain homepage for more
information on the new Cyber-Rain smart sprinkler controller units.

A fascinating bit of water news, for water fans out there… all of us!

On June 19, Governor Schwarzenegger issued new orders in response to the growing problem that is the California drought. In addition to promoting measures to appease those suffering in a dispute over water use versus fish protection, the governor is angling for looser water restrictions and safety measures to be put in place, including a “Two Gates” plan to increase water to the Central Valley, also known as the breadbasket, for its marvelous ability to grow a wide variety of foodstuffs. He has also “requested a federal disaster declaration” for the Central California region of Fresno County. The governor visited the San Joaquin Valley last week as well to speak about measures to address the drought and turn around the water crisis.

In a statement released from the Governor’s Office, a number of actions will be taken to address the 3-year-long drought: “Under the plan, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation would install and operate removable gate structures in two key locations in the central Delta. The Two Gates Project is designed to provide the same or better protection for delta smelt and other sensitive aquatic species at the State Water Project and federal Central Valley Project, while allowing additional water for use by municipal and agricultural water users south of the Delta. The gates would be temporary facilities to be removed after five years.”

In a recent press conference, the governor noted that over the last three years, “the water supply has slowed to a trickle” in California.

Executive Order S-11-09 will “activat[e] the California Disaster Assistance Act,” in response to what some have called a man-made disaster in the Central Valley, after a controversy over the Delta smelt fish allowed for further water-use restrictions. The state of California already has 21 counties designated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as being in state of disaster. The executive order will also “provide temporary supplemental assistance to the local governments and non-profit organizations that provide food and other aid to those who are impacted by the drought statewide.”

The order also gives state officials till July 15 to “provide adequate nutrition for those individuals who are temporarily unable to afford food as a result of the drought conditions” and mandates expedited unemployment benefits to those adversely and directly affected by crop failures in the the Central Valley at this time, to the tune of between $3-4 million, according to the governor at a press conference.

A water rally will take place in Fresno next week, on July 1, and the governor will be there.

Summertime, and the living is easy...

It’s June 23, which means that we have officially been enjoying the season of summer since Saturday, June 20. For most California residents, summer means elevated temperature, decreasesd precipitation and much more freedom!

We wish you a happy and healthy summer, full of relaxation and quality memories, and would like to remind you to keep conserving water, throughout the peak heat months. Though most Southern California residents have been exceptionally fortunate with the temperate and cloudy conditions throughout June, the months of July, August and September may not be quite as cool. Most plants, like people, will require additional water during the heat… that is understood. Do, however, consider setting specific time limitations on your watering schedules, and watering lawns during non-peak sunshine hours; the water will not evaporate as quickly during the cooler hours.

When looking to replenish your garden with new plants, also consider purchasing plants that are drought-resistant, and which naturally require less water. Consult the Cyber-Rain blog to see what fun and hardy plants we spotlight each week. The Cyber-Rain smart sprinkler controller is an excellent water-regulating system, and used together with thoughtful planting and the art of Xeriscape, you may be quite surprised at the water savings. Basically, Xeriscaping means planning landscapes and gardens that will use a minimal amount of water, by planting native plants or plants which simply do not use as much water as other plants.

Have a wonderful summer, and come visit the blog to let us know what you’re doing to save water.

This week’s Low Water-Use Plant of the Week is the Pachysandra, also known as the pachysandra terminalis. This low-to-the-ground shrub is not only hardy, but aesthetically pleasing when its small white flowers come out in full bloom during those sunshine-filled months of summer.

This evergreen is known as an effective ground-covering bush, as it is highly tolerant both of dry conditions and of less friendly soil. This is a low-lying plant which certainly prefers shady or partially shady conditions, and is known to protect its surroundings from heavy weed growth.

The pachysandra is one pleasant choice to consider when looking for hardy, sustainable plants for the yard. Coupled with a smart sprinkler system such as Cyber-Rain, which can guard from excess water waste, you may just find your water bill decreasing noticeably. Learn about some of the ways in which the Cyber-Rain sprinkler controller can help you to save water on a daily basis… saving water has never been so simple!

Cyber-Rain unleashed!

You’ve been asking for additional features, easier ways to save water, and greater ease of use… and we’ve been listening! It’s with great pleasure that we introduce the new Cyber-Rain XCI controllers, Standard and Pro editions.

With the updated system, here are just some of the new and notable features to look forward to:

• A 4-line LCD display, which makes reading much easier
• Controllers for either 8 or 16 landscaping zones
  

  The new Cyber-Rain controller

• Touchpad style controllers for greater simplicity and ease of use
• Better wireless connection (including longer range connectivity)
• Rain sensor input for more accurate and localized rain shutoff
• Flow sensor input as well as integrated current and temperature
  control sensors (for the PRO version only) for better monitoring and alerts.
• Follow the rules! The new controller also allows for easy compliance with new city water use restrictions.
• The Smart Scheduling Wizard assists users in setting up ideal watering conditions, based on personalized recommendations.

The scheduling wizard

We hope that you are just as excited as we are about the new innovations coming from Cyber-Rain, and that you will continue to let us know what you like about the system, and what you’d like to see next. The newest Cyber-Rain XCI controllers can be purchased online through Cyber-Rain.com and through a number of online retailers, including Smarthome. Cyber-Rain PRO systems can be purchased through outlets such as Ewing Irrigation Products and Hydro-Scape.

This week's Spotlight is on the CVWD!

This week’s Cyber-Rain Water District of the Week is the Cucamonga Valley Water District (and no, it did not win just because of its great name). Located in Rancho Cucamonga, California and serving RC, Fontana and various parts of San Bernardino County, the CVWD should be lauded for its helpfulness in directing consumers towards easy water conservation.

According to the CVWD, “with 60% of household water consumption occurring outdoors, promoting and educating customers on water efficient landscaping is a CVWD priority.”

The CVWD offers a number of helpful water saving measures, including a full conservation brochure and various water conservation-friendly landscaping programs and hints, which include free water consultations, workshops, water awareness months, and links to familiar and highly useful water conservation locations, including BeWaterWise and the H20Use (both informative and fun).

Currently, the CVWD’s rebate program is on hiatus, but we applaud the Cucamonga Valley Water District for encouraging consumers to save water however possible, during times of water scarcity.

With over half of the average home’s water bill being dedicated to outdoor water use, isn’t it time consumers were given more options on how to save water? The Cyber-Rain smart sprinkler controller is one “smart” irrigation controller system, which can help save significantly both on water use and on water bills. With a price tag of only $399, without counting rebates and other special offers, the Cyber-Rain system can quickly pay for itself with water savings on your water bills. Make every penny count, and every drop count, and save that water… let us help you save!

Keep your wallet as green as your garden this summer!

It’s nearly June 21, and you know what that means: summer!

The grass will be green, the sun will be out in its full glory, and many a grand memory will be made.

However, if you also happen to live in California, with a drought, gas prices just reaching above $3 once again, a paucity of water and water restrictions in place by the MWD and various cities, the summer presents its own unique challenges.

If you, like millions of others this summer, would rather spend that hard-earned green on enjoyable family vacations and other forms of entertainment, consider simple ways to save water, without even having to think about it.

The Cyber-Rain smart sprinkler controller is one quality way to save water on a daily basis, and potentially save quite a bit of it. Experts recognize that typically, 50-70% of a homeowner’s water bill
is accounted for by outside water use. The Cyber-Rain smart sprinkler controller has been known to save between 30-70% on the average consumer’s water bill. 30-70% of 50-70% of all water use… is quite a bit of water. What’s your average monthly bill? Chop that down accordingly, and see for yourself how much a Cyber-Rain system could save you. Additional measures, such as only using water when necessary, cutting down on superfluous use, and planting drought-tolerant/lower water-use plants, can only compound the savings. And at only $399 (not counting the many rebates available to homeowners just like you!) this system can pay for itself rather quickly.

Why not invest in something this summer that will pay dividends in water saving and wallet savings? And with the exciting innovations coming out at Cyber-Rain, and the continued simplicity of use, you won’t want to miss out. Stay tuned for exciting updates on Cyber-Rain products.