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Technical Information for Irrigation Pros

Stay ahead of the curve with these technical resources and information on WaterSense labeled landscape irrigation products.

Technical Resources

Water Budget Tool

The WaterSense Water Budget Tool is an easy-to-use Web–based resource designed to help irrigation professionals, home builders, facility managers, and even savvy homeowners establish a water budget for a landscape. With only basic landscape information (e.g., ZIP code, general plant categories), you can use the tool to find local climate data and determine a:

  • Landscape Water Allowance reflecting local climate data.
  • Landscape Water Requirement based on climate, plant types, and irrigation system efficiency.
  • Realistic goal for reducing unnecessary supplemental watering and assessing progress toward meeting that goal.

Water Budget Data Finder

Need more data? Use the Water Budget Data Finder to easily determine a peak watering month and the appropriate evapotranspiration (ET) and rainfall values for a ZIP code in the United States.

WaterSense Labeled New Homes

Preview the irrigation system and landscape criteria for WaterSense labeled homes or find all the details in the WaterSense new home specification.

WaterSense at Work

WaterSense has developed WaterSense at Work, a compilation of water-efficiency best management practices, to help commercial and institutional facilities understand and better manage their water use. Section 5.0: Outdoor Water Use provides an overview of and guidance for effectively reducing the water use associated with landscaping and irrigation.

WaterSense Labeled Landscape Irrigation Products

Look for the WaterSense label to find products that can save water without sacrificing performance. All WaterSense labeled products are independently certified to meet EPA's specifications for both water efficiency and performance. Independent third parties follow testing and certification protocols that are specific to each product category.

Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers

EPA's WaterSense Specification for Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers made these controllers the first outdoor product category eligible to earn the WaterSense label. Options for WaterSense labeled irrigation controllers include stand-alone controllers, add-on devices, and plug-in devices that are used to control watering in residential and commercial/institutional applications. To find WaterSense labeled models, use the Product Search.

For technical information about these products, their benefits, and various functions, read EPA’s four-page report on WaterSense Labeled Weather–Based Irrigation Controllers (4 pg, 1.59MB, About PDF) or review the WaterSense Labeled Irrigation Controller Fact Sheet (1 pg, 442K, About PDF).

Irrigation Product Pipeline

EPA works with industry stakeholders to expand the number and type of products that qualify for the WaterSense label. EPA encourages you to submit comments or suggestions during the specification development process.

Soil Moisture-Based Control Technologies

EPA issued a Notice of Intent (NOI) in 2013 to develop a WaterSense specification for labeling soil moisture-based control technologies. The NOI describes the performance criteria EPA might include in a draft specification, as well as outstanding technical issues that need to be resolved. EPA has continued to work with the American Society for Agricultural and Biological Engineers S633 committee to develop a performance test protocol that WaterSense could use in a specification for bypass type soil moisture-based control technologies. WaterSense plans to publish a draft specification in Summer 2016.

Landscape Irrigation Sprinklers

EPA issued an NOI in 2014 to develop a WaterSense specification for labeling landscape irrigation sprinklers WaterSense is moving forward with developing a specification for pressure-regulating bodies but has put developing a specification for high-efficiency nozzles on hold. WaterSense plans to publish a draft specification for pressure-regulating bodies in spring 2016.