A landscape education program focused on irrigation efficiency has received national recognition from the Irrigation Association. The program was awarded the Smart Water Application Technologies (SWAT) Outstanding Industry Partnership Award for its approach that combines rebates, retrofits, and targeted education to promote the adoption of smart irrigation technology.
According to the organization, “We believe that when irrigation technology is better understood by our customers and regional landscape contractors, it encourages adoption of more efficient systems and/or replacement of high-water-use turf with water-wise alternatives. Offering generous rebates is also a key component.”
The program began in 2022 with the goal of increasing water savings through educational initiatives. These efforts center on teaching about smart irrigation equipment and management practices to maximize water efficiency. The organization stated, “These collaborative programs focus on education around smart irrigation equipment and management to maximize water efficiency.”
The impact of the program has been measurable. In 2024, commercial properties in Colorado Springs that participated in irrigation and landscape retrofits saved more than 40 acre-feet of water. This amount is enough to supply about 140 families in Colorado Springs for a year. The organization noted, “Working with our landscape partners, we exceeded our water savings goal by a whopping 165%! We expect those savings to increase this year.”
The program also requires commercial participants to use landscape contractors trained through the Irrigation Association’s Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor (CLIA) program. This ensures that retrofits are installed and maintained by professionals with expertise in water efficiency. “Participation in our program requires use of a landscape contractor trained through the Irrigation Association’s Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor (CLIA) program to receive an irrigation efficiency retrofit. This requirement ensures that retrofits are installed and supported by professionals with water efficiency expertise,” the organization explained.
For residential customers, the program requires completion of an educational module and quiz before they can receive free smart controllers or high-efficiency nozzles. This is intended to help participants understand how to properly install and manage these devices for optimal water savings. “Required program education focuses on how to properly install and manage smart controllers and high-efficiency nozzles to optimize water use and system performance. Customers must complete a brief educational module and pass a quiz before receiving free smart controllers and/or high-efficiency nozzles through the program. This requirement increases understanding of how to properly install and manage these devices for optimal water savings,” the organization said.
The organization emphasized the broader benefits of efficient irrigation, stating, “Every drop saved through more efficient irrigation and water-wise landscaping really adds up. It stretches our community’s existing water supplies and delays the need to acquire costly new supplies. Customers benefit from lower water bills and less time spent on yard maintenance while still enjoying a beautiful outdoor landscape.”
More information about the program is available at csu.org.
