Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers (WBIC)

Conserving water in southern California has become very important over the last few years and will only increase in importance in the years to come.  Conserving water helps to maintain the City's water reliability and to protect the environment.

California friendly plants tend to be very water-efficient, many of these beautiful plants require little to no irrigation once established.  Turf grass requires more water than just about any other kind of plants people landscape their homes with.

The most water-efficient irrigation system for turf is you; that is, hand watering or watering with a sprinkler connected to a hose with a timer are typically the most water-efficient means of irrigating landscape.  Because these methods can be time consuming, some people choose to install an automatic sprinkler system.

If automatic sprinklers are not adjusted for changes in the weather (summer vs. winter; rain vs. dry periods), they use much more water than is needed by the plant material, often twice what is necessary.  This excess use results in a higher water bill and harms the environment by needlessly taking water out of rivers and streams and generating runoff that pollutes our coastal marine habitats.  Two types of automatic sprinklers are easily adjusted.  The "percent adjustable" kind tend to be inexpensive, are adjusted manually using a dial or key pad, and can be fairly water-efficient if the homeowner is willing to make these simple adjustments on a bi-weekly or monthly basis.  A WBIC is the most convenient because it adjusts the controller based on signals from an external source, such as a micro-weather station at your home, a satellite feed, or internet connection.  WBICs can be water-efficient if installed and programmed correctly; when installed or programmed incorrectly they may result in higher water use.

Reducing water-use outdoors is one of the keys to effective water conservation.