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• Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers Background Materials

Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers Background Materials

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Specification for Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers Background Materials

• EPA's Response to Public Comments
• Revised Draft Specification for Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers Supporting Documentation
• First Draft Specification—November 2009
• Notification of Intent

EPA's Response to Public Comments

EPA provided a response to public comments received on the draft specification:

• Response to public comments received on the Revised Draft Specification for Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers (PDF) (39 pp, 280K)

Revised Draft Specification for Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers

In January 2011, EPA released a revised draft specification for weather-based irrigation controllers for public comment. This revised draft includes several significant changes to the first draft, which are outlined in the supplemental documents below.

Information and supporting material for the first draft, released in November 2009, is also available.

• Revised Draft Specification for Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers Supporting Documentation
• Stakeholder Comments on the Revised Draft Specification for Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers
• Public Meeting on the Draft Specification for Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers

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Revised Draft Specification for Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers Supporting Documentation

• Revised Draft Specification for Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers Cover Letter (PDF) (2 pp, 480K)
• Revised Draft Specification for Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers (PDF) (8 pp, 64K)
• Summary of Major Changes to the Revised Draft Specification for Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers (PDF) (6 pp, 50K)

To assist manufacturers in certifying and labeling their products once the final specification is released, EPA developed guidance on the certification process.

• Draft Supplemental Guidance for WaterSense Certification and Labeling of Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers (PDF) (10 pp, 73K)

WaterSense also conducted follow-up research at the University of Florida regarding the use of the Smart Water Application Technologies™ (SWAT) protocol as the performance test for the specification.

• Examination of SWAT Protocol Utilizing a Performance Analysis of Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers: Update with Extended Data (2011) (PDF) (48 pp, 616K)
• Examination of SWAT Protocol Utilizing a Performance Analysis of Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers (2009) (PDF) (111 pp, 4.5MB)

Stakeholder Comments on the Revised Draft Specification for Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers

Interested parties had the opportunity to submit comments until March 21, 2011.

• Comments: Revised Draft Specification for Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers (PDF) (105 pp, 4.3MB)

Public Meeting on the Revised Draft Specification for Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers

On February 23, 2011, WaterSense held two public meeting webinars. For more information, please review:

• Meeting Summary (PDF) (13 pp, 76K)
• Revised Draft Specification for Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers Presentation (PDF) (28 pp, 831K)

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First Draft Specification—November 2009

EPA issued an initial draft specification for weather-based irrigation controllers in November 2009. For more information, please review:

• Draft Specification for Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers Supporting Documentation
• Stakeholder Comments on the Draft Specification for Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers
• Public Meeting on the Draft Specification for Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers
• Notification of Intent
• Certification and Labeling

Draft Specification for Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers Supporting Documentation

• Draft Specification for Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers Cover Letter (PDF) (2 pp, 441K)
• Draft Specification for Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers (PDF) (5 pp, 52K)
• Draft Specification for Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers Supporting Statement (PDF) (12 pp, 87K)
• Examination of SWAT Protocol Utilizing a Performance Analysis of Weather-based Irrigation Controllers (PDF) (111 pp, 4.5MB)

Stakeholder comments on Draft Specification for Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers

Interested parties had the opportunity to submit comments until January 18, 2010

Comments:

• Comments: Draft Specification for Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers (PDF) (105 pp, 4.3MB)

Public Meeting on the Draft Specification for Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers

On December 4, 2009, EPA held a public meeting in San Antonio, Texas, to discuss the Draft Specification for Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers. In addition, WaterSense held two webinars on December 16, 2009. For more information, please review:

• Meeting Summary (PDF) (13 pp, 76K)
• Draft Specification for Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers Presentation (PDF) (28 pp, 831K)

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Notification of Intent

On April 19, 2007, EPA hosted a meeting with stakeholders to discuss the technical issues and specification development process for weather-based irrigation control technologies. For more information, please review:

• Meeting Summary (PDF) (24 pp, 96K)
• Meeting Agenda (PDF) (2 pp, 26K)
• EPA's Notification of Intent (PDF) (14 pp, 193K)
• Weather- or Sensor-Based Irrigation Control Technologies Notification of Intent Stakeholder Meeting Presentation (PDF) (18 pp, 2.4MB)
• Overview of Notification of Intent and Technical Issues Presentation (PDF) (44 pp, 4.6MB)
• Climate-Based Irrigation Controller Protocol Presentation (PDF) (18 pp, 983K)

Please contact the WaterSense Helpline at (866) WTR-SENS (987-7367), or e-mail us with questions or comments.

Certification and Labeling

On September 15, 2008, EPA hosted a webinar to familiarize irrigation manufacturers of weather-based irrigation controllers with the WaterSense certification and labeling process. For more information, please review:

• Meeting Summary (PDF) (6 pp, 39K)
• WaterSense Certification and Labeling Presentation (PDF) (26 pp, 193K)