Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Save and Conserve With Smart Water Management


Save and Conserve With Smart Water Management
Phoenix, Glendale, Mesa, Arizona

Weather sensing, self-adjusting
SMART Water Controller
Desert communities like Phoenix Arizona and surrounding cities continue to experience growing concern as the demand for precious but limited water resources continues to rise. Multi-housing communities, home owner organizations and large commercial complexes with common area landscaping are looking for ways to conserve water resources and reduce monthly water utility bills. The quickest way to make a significant impact on water management practices is to install smart water controllers as an integral part of the overall landscape management plan.

Smart watering technology was originally put in place only on large commercial properties and golf courses that had their own small weather stations on site. Now, with most local weather stations feeding their data to various internet weather sites, this weather data is available to smart watering controllers through a simple wireless internet connection.

So, what really makes a water controller smart? Several added features make a controller truly smart.

Scheduling: Like other systems, these controllers have the ability to turn valves off and on at programmed times. But, a smart controller can also calculate weather conditions and adjust to optimize water usage.

Remote access: You can manage controllers from anywhere an internet connection is available.

Alerts: Controllers can measure flow and detect system anomalies like a leak or line break and alert the irrigation technician.

Evolving: The latest smart controllers can evolve as technology changes and improves with periodic updates.

The cost savings of implementing smart water can be huge! Most properties near Phoenix experience a minimum of 20% savings and some as high as 35-40%. After converting to smart controllers, the return on investment time is approximately one year in most cases. In arid regions, smart water management just makes sense as water utility prices continue to rise while the price of technology is decreasing.

These smart irrigation systems require smart and experienced landscape professionals to properly implement and get the most value from them. Once a new system in place, it is important to maintain a close relationship with an experienced landscaping contractor. Smart controllers are not a set-it-and-forget-it solution, proper training and real in-the-field experience play a big role in the long-term success of your smart irrigation plan. If you are searching for a water conserving, cost saving solution for your property, get in touch with your landscaping contractor to audit your current watering and irrigation plan. There is a better way to manage you landscaping when it comes to water use and distribution.

Friday, July 13, 2012

Purple Prickly Pear…


Yes, they really are that color! Purple Prickly Pear cactus or "Opuntia santa-rita" is native to the Sonoran desert and grows in clumps that usually reach about four feet high and five to six feet wide. During the warm summer months, the color is a blue/gray shade, their unique purple/pink color becomes more pronounced in the cooler winter months.

Like other prickly pear varieties, the pads are covered with sharp tan spines. Their yellow and red flowers bloom in the late spring. Purple Prickly Pear in Arizona also produce a reddish purple fruit in the summer.

Opuntia santa-rita or "Purple Prickly Pear"

Let Arizona's finest commercial landscape team enhance your property 
with a complete landscape management plan - 
Call ProQual at: 480-465-0608 to get started.

Monday, July 2, 2012

WEATHER ALERT! Phoenix Rainfall down -476%!!!


Year to date in 2012, the Phoenix Valley has only received 0.52" of rainfall. This is -2.48” (-476%) under the normal average year to date rainfall total of 3.0" for the Phoenix Valley.

At ProQual Landscaping, Arizona Water Management is a key focus of our business. Water is necessary for a healthy landscape, but over-watering is just a waste of money. With triple digit temperatures and hardly any rainfall, our Commercial Landscape Management customers are using more water to achieve adequate results. 

The 2011 North American monsoon season was the hottest on record and one of the driest here in Phoenix, Arizona. We are hopeful that the 2012 monsoon season will bring us the rainfall we have been lacking!

Stay posted for rainfall totals and weather updates.

2012 Rainfall totals: (as of 7/2/2012)
2012 Phoenix Valley Average (Phoenix Rainfall Index): 0.52" (-2.48" from average)