Sprinkler device teaches grass to use less water By Kyra Epstein
U.S. Water News Online
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- When some people retire, they play golf and baby-sit the grandkids. Not Al Caprio. After retiring from Hughes Aircraft, where he worked on the data processor for the Galileo probe's landing on Jupiter, he opted for the more domestic endeavor of conserving water by measuring relative humidity on Earth.
Caprio conceived of the Weathermiser, as he calls it, living across the street from a large high school that always seemed to have its sprinkler system on when it was raining. "My wife suggested I do some research to create something that could forecast the weather and wouldnÕt waste water when it was raining, and then keep it off after it rains if the humidity was high," Caprio said. "I knew that if I could come up with something that could sense evaporation and feed it to irrigation timers, which are very inefficient, people could save a lot of water."
By 1996, Caprio had convinced the 52-acre private school to use his Weathermiser device, and by 1999 the school had reduced its water consumption from 85 million gallons to 60 million gallons. Another test site, the Albuquerque Hoffman Town Church, reduced its consumption from 18 million gallons to 8 million gallons in the first year of using the Weathermiser.
The device attaches to a sprinkler system's timer and shuts off electricity to the timer when relative humidity -- or the amount of moisture in the air at a certain temperature -- is higher than a certain setpoint. Relative humidity is monitored and as the tension on a small tape increases and decreases with the humidity in the air, power is disconnected from timer. Caprio determined the setpoint by studying 10 years of data on the highest average relative humidity percentage.
For example, for New Mexico over the last 10 years, the highest average relative humidity was 60 percent. So for his clients in New Mexico, Caprio sets his Weathermisers to turn off the sprinklers when relative humidity is higher than 60 percent. "If it goes over that point, chances are that it is raining, has just rained, or is about to rain," Caprio said.
Caprio has installed between 1,000 and 2,000 units now and has caught the attention of the City of Albuquerque and the State of New Mexico, who have been helping Caprio test his invention. Dave Davis, director of the Building Services Division for the State of New Mexico, uses the Weathermiser to irrigate 50 acres of landscaping at the executive office space for which he is responsible.
"When we first started using the Weathermiser, only half of our building service complex was controlled by the Weathermiser," he said. "We soon noticed that we were overwatering where the Weathermiser was NOT used. We now have nearly all of the State Building Services complexes adapted to the Weathermiser."
The Denver Water Board also contacted Caprio and asked him to submit a proposal for a water conservation test program in Colorado. In 1999, Denver Water bought 100 Weathermisers to use in test locations in Denver and Pueblo. Caprio said that data results for the single family home test sites are a 33 percent water savings.
Steve Brunner is vice president of engineering at Planetec Utility Services in Golden, Colo., a company that is working with Denver Water to help test the Weathermiser at five industrial, corporate, and residential sites ranging from 1.7 acres to 30 acres.
Brunner said that the Weathermiser is not only helping to conserve water, but is also helping the lawn to become healthier and greener. "Most people water every day, but a little bit of stress is good for a lawn in the long run," Brunner said. "If the roots can get down deeper, to where the moisture is still in the soil, it's a healthier lawn."
Caprio said he has three versions of the Weathermiser. The least expensive version costs $51.95 and is guaranteed for 5 years. Other models have freeze sensors and/or wind sensors. And, Caprio said he is developing another model, a system for golf courses that is remote controlled. He hopes to start manufacturing the new model in 2001.
Return to the U.S. Water News Archives page Or Return to the U.S. Water News Homepage
Editor@uswaternews.com
*Your Name:
*Your Email:
*Friend's Email:
Use a comma to separate e-mail addresses:
*Your Comments:
Hi, I thought you might like to read this article.
*Required Fields