Water check program to receive technological update

By Shelby Ruud

Slow the Flow’s water check program, a part of a state-wide campaign to promote water conservation, will implement the use of iPads this summer to make data collection faster and more accurate.

The program, which is overseen by Utah State University’s Center for Water-Efficient Landscaping, offers free sprinkler system evaluations and educational materials to homeowners across Utah and was developed to promote efficient landscape irrigation.

“Utah’s dry growing season creates a strong need to irrigate lawns and landscapes,” said Roger Kjelgren, a professor in USU’s Department of Plants, Soils and Climate. “But there are limitations on water resources. Applying water more efficiently can make a big difference.”

The evaluations conducted through the program identify ways homeowners can irrigate more efficiently.

Using iPads will contribute to water conservancy, according to Kelly Kopp, a professor in USU’s Department of Plants, Soils and Climate and an administrator of the water check program.

“The iPads are going to make our data collection more accurate because they can automatically perform many calculations,” Kopp said. “Also, we’ll save a ton of time not having to enter data into our database by hand.”

The iPads will be used by interns of the program as they conduct the sprinkler system evaluations.

Along with these upgrades, communication with participants of the program will be improved.

“We will be able to notify participants when they need to change their irrigation schedules, probably by email, and provide other resources as well,” Kopp said.

More information about the program and instructions on how to schedule a free water check can be found at http://slowtheflow.org/index.php/forms/free-water-check.