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Utah Smart Irrigation: Reduce Outdoor Water Use in a Dry Year
As of May 1, northern Utah is facing a serious water challenge, one of the largest early-season water deficits of the past two decades. According to recent data, the gap between evapotranspiration (ET) and precipitation is the second largest in 20 years. This “water gap” means that landscapes and crops are losing significantly more water to the atmosphere than they’re receiving through rainfall, a recipe for drought stress if proactive steps aren’t taken now.
This early warning presents both a challenge and an opportunity. As drought restrictions are implemented across the state, it’s more important than ever to help water users, homeowners, property managers, and farmers leverage technology and data to reduce outdoor water use. This is not only a smart strategy, it’s an essential one.
Why Timing Matters: Spring Irrigation and Plant Resilience
While most people consider summer the peak of irrigation needs, early spring and late fall are when root growth is most active, especially for turfgrass. Proper irrigation during these shoulder seasons helps develop deeper, stronger root systems. When plants enter summer heat, that early-season moisture foundation increases their drought resistance and reduces the risk of damage when watering must be curtailed.
In other words, watering wisely in spring helps you water less in summer and maintain healthy landscapes and crops.
Technology at Our Fingertips: The Power of B-hyve Controllers
Here in Utah, we already have a powerful tool to help us respond intelligently to drought: the B-hyve smart controller. With more than 120,000 B-hyve controllers currently in use across the state, spanning residential landscapes and agriculture, we have the infrastructure to make a measurable difference right now.
For users managing turfgrass, now is the time to activate drought settings. Specifically, setting zones to D2 (U.S. Drought Monitor Stage 2) before June 1 can reduce irrigation by approximately 15%, without harming plant health. Starting June 1, increasing to the D4 setting will reduce irrigation by about 25%, a significant savings during the most water-intensive part of the year.
Real-time data and weather conditions drive these smart settings. For example, B-hyve controllers automatically deduct irrigation when beneficial rainfall is detected, including from the storms forecasted in the coming week. That means every drop of rain counts — and no water is wasted.
Data-Driven Water Conservation
This approach represents shifting from traditional one-size-fits-all water restrictions to a more precise, data-driven strategy. Using ET data, local rainfall information, and smart technology, we can maximize conservation while minimizing landscape damage even in severe drought.
This isn’t just about saving water. It’s about protecting the long-term health of our landscapes, supporting food production, and being good stewards of Utah’s most precious natural resource.
What You Can Do
If you’re a water district manager, policymaker, or conservation professional in Utah, here’s how you can help:
- Encourage users in your region to activate B-hyve drought settings and increase them on June 1.
- Share this information through your networks, websites, and newsletters.
- Remind users that irrigation systems with weather-based controls like B-hyve already include rain skip functionality.
- Support early-season irrigation that builds root resilience, and it’s an investment in summer survival.
Our team at B-hyve is amplifying this message on our website and communication channels. We encourage you to do the same, so we can collectively make a positive impact this season.
Together, we can face this dry year with smart strategies, strong partnerships, and a shared commitment to water sustainability.
