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Directories Int'l Realty US Realty
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Let it Rain, Let it Rain, Let it Rain Stuart Lieberman, Esq., Sprinkler systems can keep your lawn nice and green. And Americans tend to care very much about their lawns. You don't want to be out done by your neighbor. Sprinkler systems guarantee uniform watering and can help you win the lawn race. They work so well because come rain or shine, no matter what, they go one and irrigate your lawn. But therein also lies the problem. Sprinklers run even if it is raining. That wastes both money and precious resources. Some New Jersey Legislators have decided that there is such a thing as too much watering. They have proposed a law, which is now pending in the Legislature, that would require new sprinkler installations to include rain sensors. The idea is that if it rains, your sprinkler will not function, and the water waste can be avoided. Currently, there are two kinds of rain sensors that are available. The first is manufactured by Toro and Hunter. This kind of sensor consists of a stack of leather discs that are exposed to rainfall. As the sensors get wet, the leather expands and puts pressure on a normally closed micro-switch. In turn, this micro-switch is linked to all the zone valves in the yard. When the switch opens following a rainfall, the circuit is broken between the controller and the valves, thereby stopping the valves from opening. Thus, water cannot exit the system. After the rainfall, the leather dries and the process is reversed. The rain switch can be set to activate anywhere from 1/8 of an inch to one inch of rainfall. This is accomplished by adjusting the leather. The other kind of sensor is manufactured by Rainbird. This device consists of a cup that collects rainfall. The cup is mounted on a lever which is ultimately connected to the zone valves. As the cup fills with water the lever becomes heavy and drops down, which blocks the water flow. According to Joe Woodbury of Maple Grove, Minnesota's well known "Sprinkler Shop" (admin@pioneermidwest.com), the disadvantage of this kind of sensor is the possibility that foreign debris, such as dust and leaves, can fill the cup causing it to malfunction. A third option is a moisture sensor that is buried in the ground. This will read the moisture in the ground and "request" the controller to cut off the water. This device retails around $500 each and is generally only used on golf courses. Woodbury informed me that rain sensors have been around for about 15 years. He encourages every system to have them because they advance water conservation. According to Woodbury, product failure is rare. He is aware of several cities that already have laws in place similar to that proposed in New Jersey. The industry also produces wind sensors that will shut down a sprinkler system when winds exceed 15 mph. The purpose of this kind of sensor is to avoid runoff. In addition, many sprinkler manufacturers sell sprinkler heads with "high flow shut-off." These heads will shut down if they start dumping water. If a sprinkler is cut by a lawn mower, the head will flow freely. The high flow shut off will stop the water from gushing out. The Sprinkler Shop has been in business for over twenty years and boasts employees with over 100 years of combined irrigation experience. The company has received many industry awards and has served as technical advisor on several "Hometime" TV shows produced for PBS and the Discovery Channel. Watering your lawn helps guarantee a nice, green lawn. But watering your lawn when it is raining makes little sense. Rain sensors can help safeguard against this waste. Here's a hint. Once this becomes law, and it probably will at some point, the price will likely go up and installers will become hard to book. Why not install rain sensors now, and beat the crowd?
The information provided in this column is written by Stuart Lieberman,a practicing environmental attorney, and is for general information purposes only. It is not legal advice and should not be used in place of legal advice.
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