Smart Watering

WaterSense labels two types of irrigation controllers that can help homeowners and businesses make their irrigation scheduling more water-efficient: weather-based irrigation controllers use local weather and landscape conditions to tailor watering schedules, and soil moisture-based irrigation controllers (also known as soil moisture sensors, or SMSs) monitor moisture levels in the soil to prevent irrigation when water is not needed.

Both technologies allow watering schedules to better match plants' water needs. With proper installation, programming, and maintenance, homeowners and businesses can use WaterSense labeled controllers instead of clock-based controllers on their irrigation systems, and no longer worry about wasted water.

To earn the WaterSense label, irrigation controllers are independently certified to meet specific WaterSense criteria for efficiency and performance. Controllers that use either weather or soil moisture data can be labeled under those respective specifications. Some controllers use both types of data concurrently, and those must be certified under both specifications to bear the WaterSense label.

Read the Irrigation Controller Fact Sheet (1 pp, 232 K, About PDF) for more information.

For tips on selecting irrigation controllers and adjusting irrigation for each season, read the Is Your Watering Under Control brochure (2 pp, 3 MB, About PDF).

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WaterSense Savings

Replacing a standard clock-based controller with a WaterSense labeled irrigation controller can save an average home up to 15,000 gallons of water annually. If every home in the United States with an automatic sprinkler system installed and properly operated a WaterSense labeled controller, we could save up to $4.5 billion in water costs and 390 billion gallons of water across the country annually from not overwatering lawns and landscapes. That's equal to the annual household water needs of 5 million average American homes. WaterSense labeled controllers can also be a water-smart solution for larger landscapes (1 pp, 255 K, About PDF), such as schools, hotels, and office buildings. Some utilities offer rebates to help you water smarter outdoors.

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