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How to Evaluate a Landscape Irrigation System
Smart Water Management Begins with a Solid Assessment
Evaluating a landscape irrigation system can be daunting, especially when taking over a new commercial property or aiming to reduce long-term water costs. But setting water management as a clear priority doesn’t just show professionalism—it sets you apart in a competitive market. Contractors who approach irrigation with strategy and structure deliver real value to their customers and create long-term opportunities for their businesses.
To properly assess a landscape irrigation system, a methodical plan is necessary: locate points of connection, assess controllers, check meters, identify valves, and look for opportunities to retrofit or upgrade outdated equipment. Here’s how to get started—and what to look for along the way.
Start with a Landscape Irrigation Checklist
The first step is simple: use a checklist. It helps gather the correct information, keeps your evaluation focused, and later becomes a roadmap for upgrades. Include the following questions in your site walk-through:
- Are there any non-functional turf areas (i.e., turf that isn’t walked on or used)?
- Are there steep slopes that lead to runoff issues?
- Which areas are candidates for converting spray zones to drip irrigation?
- Are the plant types suitable for the climate, or could drought-tolerant options improve both aesthetics and efficiency?
- Is a smart controller currently installed?
- Is the system pressure regulated, or is it too high for current components?
- Should a professional water audit be conducted for a deeper understanding?
This list isn’t exhaustive, but it’s a great starting point. Over time, your checklist will evolve into a powerful tool that standardizes your evaluations and helps guide recommendations with data.
Create a Water Management Program
Once you’ve completed your evaluation, it’s time to turn insights into action. A solid water management plan helps you reduce waste, control costs, and build trust with clients through measurable results. Here’s what that program should include:
- Monthly Wet Checks
Regular inspections keep systems working efficiently. Walk every zone, look for broken heads, leaks, misaligned spray, or dry spots, and make necessary adjustments on the spot.
- Propose an Action Plan
Use your checklist data to build a prioritized plan of suggested improvements. Include both quick wins and long-term upgrades. Help your client see where their investment will produce savings.
- Develop a Water Budget
Calculate a monthly water budget based on irrigated square footage, plant type, and local evapotranspiration (ET) rates. This provides a benchmark for efficiency—and a target to aim for or surpass.
- Track and Report Usage
With smart irrigation controllers, reporting becomes easy. Set the budget, then track monthly performance and provide updates to the client. These reports show accountability and reinforce the value of your service.
- Propose Upgrades with ROI Calculations
Many property managers require a clear financial justification to approve system improvements. That’s where ROI calculations make the difference.
Example: ROI for a Smart Controller Retrofit
Let’s say you’re managing a 4-acre commercial site currently irrigated by a conventional timer-based system.
- Annual water use: 2.4 million gallons
- Average cost per gallon: $0.007 (roughly $17 per 1,000 cubic feet)
- Total yearly water bill: $16,800
- Estimated water savings with smart controller: 30%
- Annual savings: $5,040
- Cost of smart controller retrofit (including installation): $3,200
ROI Calculation:
- Payback period: 8 months
- Year 1 Net Savings: $1,840
- Year 2 and beyond: $5,040 annually
This kind of simple ROI example helps property managers understand the tangible financial impact. Bonus: Many municipalities offer rebates for smart controller installations, further improving ROI.
Once your client understands the potential savings, it’s time to guide them through strategic upgrades. Start with:
- Pressure-Regulating Spray Heads: Prevent misting and reduce water waste due to over-pressurization.
- High-Efficiency Rotating Nozzles: Improve distribution uniformity, especially in turf zones.
- Drip Irrigation Systems: Ideal for beds, parkways, and tight spaces—eliminating overspray and targeting root zones directly.
- Master Valves and Flow Sensors: Automatically shut down the system when leaks or breaks are detected, preventing thousands of gallons from being wasted.
- Smart Controllers: Enable weather-based adjustments, cycle-and-soak programming, and remote scheduling—all from a phone or computer.
Why This Matters
Smart irrigation isn’t just about saving water—it’s about protecting landscapes, lowering utility costs, and making system management easier and more reliable. With rising water rates, aging infrastructure, and growing pressure to conserve resources, contractors and property managers who prioritize efficient irrigation are better positioned for long-term success.
Plus, it’s good business. Smarter systems reduce callbacks, simplify maintenance, and create opportunities for long-term service agreements.
Final Thoughts
Evaluating an irrigation system doesn’t have to be complicated—but it must be intentional.
With a checklist in hand, a commitment to measurable improvement, and a focus on ROI, you can transform water management from a liability into an asset.
When you take water seriously, clients notice. They see it in their lower bills and healthier landscapes and trust that their property is in good hands. Start with a solid evaluation and let water efficiency be your competitive advantage.
